Coimbatore corporation has started cracking the whip on unauthorised constructions after the commissioner issued an order instructing engineers in zones to work in tandem with the town planning officials.
Town planning department officials had sealed four buildings constructed in deviation to the approved plan recently. Two buildings nearing completion on VCV Street in ward 25 were sealed as the owner constructed additional floors. Two buildings were sealed in Rathinapuri after owners constructed additional buildings and residential units.
A senior corporation official said that the buildings were sealed to send a message to the violators. “Inspections will be carried out to ensure that the new buildings adhere to the norms. Appropriate actions would be taken against violators,” he said.
“There were not enough officials to work in the zone-level. The officials are busy with works including checking building plans, approving them, serving notices to buildings constructed in violation, checking the status of open space reserve lands and removing encroachments. Now, zone-level engineers have been asked to work with the town planning officials, which would help town planning officials to carry out pending works.”
“There is no point in sealing buildings that have been completed. From now on, we will check if the buildings are constructed in the space for which permission was obtained. If a violation is found, the building owner would be either allowed to continue construction only in the permitted area or apply for approval for the additional area,” the official added.
