The Hindu            05.02.2014

TNHB residents asked to pay for property sale deeds

Nearly 20 years after moving into flats constructed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) in Kodambakkam, owners have been asked to pay a few lakhs to obtain their property sale deed.

Residents of this cluster of TNHB flats at Puliyur, in Kodambakkam, recently received a circular from TNHB asking them to pay amounts varying between Rs. 1.8 lakh and Rs. 3.5 lakh, as the differential amount they owe to the Board, to get the sale deed of their flats. Land cost was fixed at Rs. 16.18 lakh a ground (2,400 square feet) in March 2009.

“We purchased a single-bedroom flat for Rs. 2.29 lakh in 1993 by borrowing from various sources and completely using up our savings. We rushed as the flats were built by the government but now we regret our decision,” said S. Varadhan and S.N. Eshwaran, who were among the first to move into the TNHB complex in 1996.

Residents say rarely does a day pass by without a portion of a balcony, ceiling or terrace crumbling and falling. There are a total of 428 flats, comprising 64 two-bedroom flats, 124 single-bedroom flats and 240 flats constructed in 10 blocks.

“A team of government officials should visit and see for themselves the pathetic condition of our flats. We are living under the perpetual fear of being buried in rubble, and demanding more money of us is unfair and arbitrary,” said Vasantha Viswanathan.

Jecintha, a resident living in a ground floor flat, had a narrow escape on Monday evening. “I was sitting outside my flat on the ground floor when the plaster on the sun shade of the flat on the third floor fell in a heap,” she said.

Chitra Bhaskaran, another resident, said the quality of construction was poor and the overhead water tanks were resting on weak and brittle concrete slabs and pillars. Several owners had sold their flats at a pittance and shifted elsewhere, she added.

TNHB officials said they had issued the circular following a High Court direction. There was nothing wrong with the quality of the construction, the officials claimed, adding that the maintenance of flats was the responsibility of the owners and occupants.

The Hindu             04.02.2014

Only 45 colleges got building approval: CTCP

Mohamed Imranullah S.

Safety of students in educational institutions a cause for concern

The Madras High Court Bench here was informed on Monday that only 45 out of 2,906 colleges (including engineering, medical, para-medical, arts and science and polytechnic colleges) functioning in various parts of the State, except Chennai metropolitan area, had obtained approval for their buildings from the Town and Country Planning authorities.

Special Government Pleader (SGP) M. Govindan made the submission before a Division Bench of Justices R. Sudhakar and V.M. Velumani during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Chettinad College of Engineering and Technology in Karur district. The petitioner had challenged a final notice issued by the officials asking it to either obtain approval within 15 days or face ‘lock and seal’ proceedings.

Opposing the writ, the SGP submitted a copy of a letter written by the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning A. Karthik to the District Collectors on July 3, 2013. The letter stated that a special drive conducted by the field offices of his department had led to unearthing of “quite a lot” of educational institutions having been constructed without the permission of his department.

“A rough estimate shows that out of a total of 2,906 colleges, only about 45 colleges have got valid approval from the department. In addition to this there are about 17,000 schools. Buildings constructed in educational institutions without permission are a cause of concern in view of safety of students and non conformity to government regulations,” the Commissioner had said.

He also pointed out that the Housing and Urban Development Department had passed a Government Order on June 26, 2013 providing a concession of 50 per cent in Infrastructure and Amenities Charges to be paid by all categories of non multi-storeyed buildings, constructed before July 1, 2007, for getting them regularised. However, the concession was available only for six months from the date of G.O.

The G.O. also permitted educational institutions to earmark 10 per cent of their site area under the category of ‘Open Space Reservation’ and utilise it as a park rather than handing it over the jurisdictional local body as required under the old rules. Hence, the Commissioner had urged the Collectors to ensure that all educational institutions obtain clearance within the stipulated time.

However, the writ petitioner claimed that it had obtained building plan approval from the Puliyur Panchayat president and hence there was no necessity to obtain technical approval from Town and Country Planning Authorities. The judges directed the High Court Registry to tag the petition along with a similar case already pending before the court and post them for hearing on Thursday.