With Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) deciding to reintroduce Green Channel concept for speedy disposal of development permissions, it has decided to appoint licensed document auditors and licensed architects.

The concept will be introduced in a phased manner making it applicable initially to layout approvals. Under the ‘Green Channel’ scheme, a panel of architects and document auditors who are conversant with town planning rules, regulations and laws, will be empanelled and licensed to scrutinise applications by the HMDA in a transparent manner.

In this connection, the HMDA held meetings with Andhra Pradesh Bar Council as well as Council of Architecture for empanelment of licensed advocates and licensed architects for issuing development permissions.

After the meetings, the HMDA would invite tenders for empanelment of licensed architects and document auditors by this month end. 

Speaking to Express, HMDA Metropolitan Commissioner, Neerabh Kumar Prasad said that under the Green Channel facility, land owners, builders and developers will have the option to obtain expeditious approval of development permissions.

He said the Green Channel will enable applicants to obtain fast-track clearance for their development proposals from the HMDA in seven working days. The concept will be applicable initially to layout approvals. No additional fees will be charged by the HMDA, the applicants have to pay the required fees to the empanelled document auditors and architects.

He said that applications will be accepted at Citizen Facilitation Centre at the Head Office on the strength of recommendation of architect on technical matters and document auditors on land matters.

Scrutiny of applications will be based on the check list and to do vetting of both technical parameters and ownership aspects and inspection of site if necessary. Letters would be issued in seven days with a direction to pay short fall amounts (if any) and to complete mortgage formality in seven days.

Water tariffs may go up any day now as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Monday prepared a report with justifications sought by the Chief Minister to allow a price hike. The BWSSB’s report, based on the need to shore up its finances, is likely to be placed before the Chief Minster soon.

According to sources, the BWSSB had held a board meeting on Monday to prepare the justification for revising the water tariff and had prepared a report to convince the CM on the need to revise waters tariffs.

According to the report, the BWSSB generated a monthly income of Rs 46-50 crore and its expenditure exceeded Rs 80 crore, which included monthly electricity charges of Rs 36 crore, establishment charges of Rs 10 crore, interest on various loans taken by the board and repayment of these loans in installments.

The water tariff was last revised in 2005 and since then, the power tariff was revised various times. Therefore, BWSSB faces a revenue deficit of Rs 30-35 crore. Unless the water tariff is revised at the earliest, the Board’s finances would be severely affected, officials said.

The BWSSB had requested the Chief Minister to allow it to revise the water tariff following which he sought a report justifying the hike.