Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

‘Apply rules stringently on illegal buildings’

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has called upon the State Government to ensure stringent application of rules on unauthorised constructions, as per the amendments made to the Town and Country Planning Act.

Appreciating the amendments made to the Act, in a letter to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the consumer body’s secretary K. Kathirmathiyon said that the objective of these could be achieved only if the authorities at the local level in towns and cities enforced the rules and did not spare any violator. An independent body must be formed to monitor the constructions, he said.

The amendments, he said, would help in preventing unplanned and unhealthy growth and also the construction of unsafe buildings or structures that caused nuisance. Though several action had been initiated by the government earlier to end the construction of such buildings, including those without the mandatory parking area, these structures continued to come up. The current system of merely issuing notices would not serve as a deterrent.

The amendments offered hopes of a change because a time-frame restriction on the removal of such structures had been done away with. So far, the Local Planning Authorities could initiate action against the illegal buildings only if they were constructed within three years.

If the owner of the building / land had not stopped the construction even after the receipt of notice, the authorities could now seal the premises. If any construction was made after the notice, it should be removed at the owner’s cost.

The planning authorities were also authorised to seize any construction material, tool and machinery and vehicles used for such development and to sell them by auction. Even the owner of the vehicle could not make any claim over the vehicle or sale proceeds.

No injunction would be granted by any court against the notices issued by the planning authorities.

Further, based on government’s suggestion, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulator Commission had issued instructions that new power connections could be provided only to the buildings with proper approval.

The government must ensure that at least hereafter no new building was constructed without proper approval, especially public buildings, flats and multi-storied structures. While appreciating the devolution of more plan approval powers to Local Planning Authorities, the consumer body said adequate staff must be provided to these agencies and a time-frame fixed for plan approval.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CCI looking at marketing options
Exhibition
VC warns those who indulge in malpractices
‘Social forestry essential’
Demonstration
Two get 10-year RI for dowry deaths
‘Apply rules stringently on illegal buildings’
Grievances meetings on Friday
Helping hands fund his education, to help him become a doctor
New Jet Airways service on Kochi-Chennai route
DVAC searches Inspector’s house
Coimbatore Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu