Date:12/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/12/stories/2007121250460100.htm

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‘Empower local bodies to demolish illegal structures’

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: The State Administrative Reforms Commission has taken a serious view of unauthorised construction of buildings. At a meeting held at the Coimbatore Corporation on Tuesday, it said local bodies must be empowered to demolish such structures. Only the local planning authority had the powers to do it and the Corporation could only issue notices to the buildings, it noted. “This is where we need reforms,” Commission Chairman Justice A.K. Rajan said.

While eliciting the views of the public, elected representatives and voluntary organisations on reforms needed to improve civic administration, Mr. Rajan wondered how totally unauthorised buildings were being provided water, drainage and electricity connections.

“When the plan itself is not approved, how can the Corporation assess a building for tax?” he asked.

When a Councillor said people ignorant of the risks of constructing houses in unapproved layouts landed themselves in problems, the Chairman rejected the claim and said they did so because the land cost was less.

To a complaint from a member of the public that obtaining plan approval from the Corporation was an agonising process, the Chairman asked the officials whether they would refuse approval even if the plan conformed to the building rules. Mr. Rajan said the agency granting approval (the other body is the Local Planning Authority) should publicise the list of documents that should be enclosed with the application for plan approval.

At the same time, there was no need to brand as violation something like the re-location of a kitchen in the plan. “There should be a pragmatic approach,” he said.