Registered engineers held responsible for building violations

The town planning department of the city corporation has warned that registered engineers would be held responsible for deviations or violations of building plans.

In an online meeting organized by the city corporation on Monday, executive engineer (planning) K Karupathal warned that registered engineers would face action if there were any violations found in the building construction.

“It is the responsibility of the registered engineers to ensure that buildings are constructed as per the approval plans at every stage,” she said. More than 100 registered engineers took part in the meeting.

Registered engineers are in a fix now with the planning department officials fixing the responsibility for violations. A registered engineer said, “In most cases, building owners engage a civil engineer and end our services after getting the building plan approval from the corporation. How could we monitor the progress at every stage and report it to the corporation?”

However, former president of Association of Registered Engineers S Kanagasundaram welcomed the move saying it would help bring down deviations. It will also end the interference of brokers if implemented in letter and spirit. “It should have been implemented three years ago when the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building rules came into effect,” he added.

“If the building owner engages some other engineer, the registered engineers could notify the same to the planning officials in writing so that they would not be held responsible for any violations. As per law, buildings should be constructed under the supervision of registered engineers,” he said.