Several places across the State would soon have better water supply and sewerage network as they are set to gain significantly under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The Union Ministry of Urban Development recently sanctioned nearly Rs. 734 crore towards implementation of water supply projects in the State that would help increase coverage of piped water supply and improve quality of drinking water supplied to residents.

According to sources, projects to improve water supply in Madurai have been provided with a fund of nearly Rs. 320 crore. Under the State Annual Action Plan, places including Chennai, Kumbakonam, Madurai and urban local bodies around Chennai such as Tambaram and Pallavaram were sanctioned funds for water supply projects.

Similarly, Kumbakonam has been provided with a funding of nearly Rs. 40 crore for sewerage and septage management projects. Residents of Salem and Tiruvannamalai would have more recreational spaces as nearly Rs. 5 crore has been sanctioned towards development of parks and open spaces.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry has also announced that it plans to provide nearly Rs. 7,147 crore towards implementation of various developmental projects in Tamil Nadu. The funding would be used to improve stormwater drains, reduce inundation, enhance public transport facilities and provide recreational spaces, especially for children.

Making a slew of announcements in the House, Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister S.P. Velumani said, presently, local bodies were empowered to grant planning permission to residential buildings with a constructed area of up to 4,000 sq.ft only.

Suitable laws

This restriction would be eased and suitable legislation brought in to enable local bodies to grant approvals for the construction of buildings beyond 4,000 sq ft. Likewise, civic bodies would be vested with the authority to grant planning permission to commercial buildings beyond the prevailing stipulation of up to 2,000 sq.ft.

Time frame

The local bodies will be mandated to grant the planning permission within a specified time frame, failing which the permission shall be deemed to have been granted.

The government has also proposed to make it mandatory to apply for plan permissions only through the online mode.

If the local bodies do not decide on the building layout applications made online within 30 days, the land owners can consider that the applications have been approved and can commence construction work.

Relevant Acts would be amended to facilitate these decisions.