The Hindu 09.12.2010
Building norm violations continue
“This is mainly on account of the lack of appropriate enforcement mechanism''
CHENNAI: Violations of norms in buildings constructed in the Chennai Metropolitan Area continue to be reported after July 2007 on account of the constraints in enforcement.
Of the 4,156 building constructions that were surveyed in Chennai Corporation limits from July 27, 2007, a total of 1,753 were issued stop work notice, according to the spokesperson of the Monitoring Committee M. G. Devasahayam.
This is mainly on account of the lack of appropriate enforcement mechanism, he added.
Tamil Nadu government, on July 27, 2007 promulgated an ordinance, valid for a year, seeking to suspend any punitive action against unauthorised construction with respect to structures in the Chennai Metropolitan Planning Area that were completed before July 27, 2007. The date was declared as the cut-off date for a moratorium on punitive action.
According to a senior official of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the enforcement was being carried out periodically but the number of officials was not adequate. The planning body would also urge the heads of department of local bodies in the CMA to take efforts towards enforcement.
Mr. Devasahayam said that there is no reduction in the number of violations after 2007. A total of 3,367 buildings were surveyed in the same period in municipality limits and 3,160 received stop work notice.
In town panchayat areas, 1,658 buildings were surveyed, of which 1,132 got stop work notice.
A total of six buildings received stop work notice, out of the 1,032 surveyed in panchayat union areas in the same period.
