Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rain a great leveller for approved, unapproved layouts Realty Check

CHENNAI: With rains affecting the approved layouts just as much as the unapproved ones, many property buyers and residents are wondering about the efficacy of rules and usefulness of the local bodies in providing infrastructure.

“My house in a CMDA approved layout has been inundated. We faced severe problems this rainy season as water entered my house,” says V.Bhaskaran, a resident of Udhayam Nagar in Velachery.

Many residents have also shifted from the houses constructed in the approved layouts located in low-level areas, said U.Solomon, a resident of Mogappair.

The rate of appreciation of property and rental values in the areas prone to flooding is relatively low, said R.Rajkumar, a broker.

“Officials from the CMDA inspect the land and if it is found to be prone to inundation we ask the layout developer to get the ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Public Works Department.

The PWD after inspection of the site suitability makes recommendation of the required increase in height of the layout and gives its ‘No Objection Certificate’ after the height has been increased by the developer. Only after the NOC is obtained, the CMDA will approve the layout,” said a senior official of the CMDA.

“We also ask the local bodies concerned to initiate construction of stormwater drains at the appropriate locations to cope with the challenges posed by rain in the city and its suburbs,” the official added.

However, there are many layouts that are either unapproved or do not follow the procedures.

Residents said that many local bodies had failed to undertake the required development activities in the layouts in order to control inundation.

“The promoter of the layout is reluctant to intervene once the plots are sold out. After construction of building, the local residents associations are forced to take initiatives to get the infrastructure including roads and drains,” says Mr.Bhaskaran.

Some of the elected representatives of panchayats have been illegally approving the plan and some banks have also sanctioned loan for constructing buildings in such areas, said G.Mohandas, a civil engineer.

“Getting approval from many authorities has emerged as a major drawback in doing business as we face an increase in the cost incurred and delay in getting the layout approved,” said realtor Z. Ahmed.

However, if and when the local bodies take up infrastructure work, the approved layouts would alone be considered.

Unapproved layouts would have to seek alternative ways to get infrastructure for their plots.

Inundation has made some property buyers reluctant in buying plots in some of the affected areas in and around the city.

Places such as Velachery, Nolambur and Porur are examples, says a real estate broker.

Residents feel that comprehensive planning may prevent flooding of the approved layouts.

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