The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority(CMDA) has begun cracking down on building violators. A special team inspecting 397 buildings that were given approval since May 2021 until Monday found about 16 buildings with violations and deviations and that 112 are yet to begin construction.
The move comes just days after the entire building approval process was made online under a single window system.
CMDA member secretary Anshul Mishra said the aim was to curtail violations in buildings where construction is yet to start and to detect the extent of violations in others. “It will create awareness on the importance of abiding by regulations and the consequences of deviations,” he said.
Among the major violations found was a residential building being converted into a hospital and several buildings turning the setback area into car parking lots. “After the drive, we will issue notices and seal these buildings. We will also demolish a few based on the violations,” said an official.
K Kathirmathiyon, a citizen activist, said 90% of buildings in the state didn’t conform to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules that were amended in 2019. As per rules, through the registered architect/engineer, the builder/ owner has to submit a progress certificate and the structural inspection report. The CMDA/other plan authority has to check for deviations at that stage and convey its decision within 15 working days to the owner/developer.
These days, most deviations come to light only when completion certificates are sought for power, water or sewer connections, he said.
Experts say the enforcement wing of the CMDA, in charge of 1,189 sq km, is weak. K P Subramanian, former professor for urban engineering at Anna University, said that either enforcement should be outsourced or given to local bodies which have officials at the ward and street level. “Similar inspections should take place systematically and continuously to avoid any plan deviations and illegal constructions.”
During the December 2015 floods in Chennai, about 1.5 lakh buildings were found with violations. S P Thiyagarajan, an RTI activist, said nothing will change until corruption at every level is curbed. “Officials collide with builders and owners and help them deviate from plans as there is a lot of money involved,” he said.
Subramanian said that if stakeholders’ suggestions are taken when rules are framed, deviations can be reduced.
Mishra said they also plan to amend rules to increase penalties.
