The Hindu : CMDA scheme shows up cracks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

CMDA scheme shows up cracks

By Karthik Subramanian

Photo: R. Ragu

Demolition of a multistorey building under way on Bishop Wallers Avenue on Saturday evening.

CHENNAI MAY 31. The Chennai Corporation today commenced partial demolition of a multistoreyed building in South CIT Colony, Mylapore, which was declared `unsafe' after one of the pillars developed cracks on Tuesday. Following this, Shanthi Builders, promoter of the eight-storey apartment building on Bishop Wallers Avenue, took over the demolition work, to remove top three floors and the terrace with drilling equipment. In a statement,the builder however, accused the Corporation of acting `hastily' at a time when it had taken steps to strengthen pillars.

The demolition follows a notice issued to the builder by the Commissioner under Section 258 (Precautions in case of dangerous structures) of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919. The Commissioner, M. P. Vijayakumar, said the action was based on a PWD inspection report that the structural stability of the building was `suspect' and that the pillars were originally meant for sustaining just the stilt (ground floor parking area) plus four floors. Officials of the CMDA confirmed that the building plan was originally meant for the ground plus four floors, but the builder applied, under its regularisation scheme, to carry on with the construction. Urban development experts questioned the rationale behind the builder applying for regularisation ``in anticipation of a violation''.

The episode has ``thoroughly exposed'' the perils of the CMDA's regularisation scheme, emboldening several blatant violators to carry on with unsafe constructions, feel the experts. ``Under normal circumstances, cited in Development Control Rules, multistoreyed apartments are permitted only on 60-foot roads, with a plot extent in excess of 1,500 sq.metres. But the continuous extensions of the CMDA's scheme have only encouraged builders to violate building norms without regard for safety,'' said a builder, on condition of anonymity.

The onus of ensuring structural stability of buildings falls on, apart from the CMDA, the Chennai Corporation's Town Planning department, which grants building licences. However, the regularisation scheme has created a `loophole' in the system, exploiting which builders can continue with the construction even after an inspection.

Meanwhile, the city police have served notice on the builder and agent of actress Sridevi, who is the landowner, to stop the construction immediately.

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