The Hindu 30.01.2014
Stringent enforcement of building norms in city soon
A major administrative revamp at the Chennai Corporation is set to improve the enforcement of rules pertaining to building violations in the city.
Last week, the State government cleared the Corporation’s proposal for a new administrative structure, which will facilitate the use of three regional offices more effectively, with separate executive engineers for town planning enforcement and town planning approval.
“The reorganisation of regional offices with an executive engineer for enforcement purposes alone will act as a deterrent. A team of five assistant engineers and two assistant executive engineers, exclusively for enforcement, will prevent further building violations in the city,” said a Corporation official.
There are 11 lakh property tax assessees in the 15 zones of the city. As per Corporation estimates, at least five lakh residential and commercial properties in the city have violated building norms.
Building violations apart, the reorganised system is set to strengthen civic administration across several fields including solid waste management and playground management in all regions.
Under the reorganised administrative system, a chief engineer and two superintending engineers will assist the regional deputy commissioner. A superintending engineer (general) will manage bus routes, buildings, parks and playgrounds in the five zones of each region.
Another superintending engineer in each of the regional offices will manage town planning, solid waste management and the mechanical engineering department. Five assistant engineers for town planning, three assistant executive engineers and an executive engineer will report to the superintending engineer for town planning at the regional office.
The number of superintending engineers at Ripon Buildings has come down to four, with six now working at the regional offices. The four will handle bridges, electrical issues, planning and quality control and special projects.
Team created exclusively for enforcement post civic body revamp.
