Kerala state coastal zone management authority (KCZMA) is mulling online processing of applications related to coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance. The latest meeting of KCZMA has considered the proposal and a final decision is likely to be made soon.
The plan is to tie up with Information Kerala Mission (IKM) and make use of Sanketham software, which is already in use for processing of building permits in local bodies.
A meeting was held in November at IKM regarding the processing of CRZ application online. A representative from IKM had done a PowerPoint presentation on Sanketham software, which is used by local self government bodies. Later, the officials of KCZMA had an interaction with IKM officials regarding the processing of CRZ applications.
The officials said that initially online processing of CRZ applications will be introduced for the construction of residential buildings and small commercial buildings. The CRZ applications of large constructions, which require documents like CRZ status report shall be processed offline. It has been decided to forward the details of CRZ clearance application to IKM for including in the Sanketham software.
Officials said that online processing of CRZ application is expected to make the process far more transparent. “This will have multiple benefits; the most important being transparency. Applicants will have to upload documents via designated portal and they would be able to track the applications online. The undue delay in getting applications processed could be minimized with the online system,” an official said.
KCZMA had earlier considered the proposal in 2018, but it wasn’t taken forward. Meanwhile, there are also apprehensions about use of the software for processing of applications. Some of the local bodies had submitted complaints against Sanketham software and the state government had to introduce another software for processing of building permit applications in selected corporations and municipalities.
The reconstituted KCZMA in its first meeting held in November had dealt with a backlog of over 200 applications and ratification of around 1,800 applications, which were processed by district-level committees of five coastal districts. It is expected that with the online system coming into effect, the delay in processing of applications could be reduced.
Norms mandate that applications will have to cleared within 60 days. KCZMA has been trying all means to expedite process of clearance of CRZ applications and at the same time create awareness about rules. The authority has decided to give permission to appoint one qualified technical person on a temporary basis in ten district level committees of KCZMA.
