Move to list illegal structures

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The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the city corporation have embarked on a major drive to identify buildings that have been constructed by violating building norms.

The move comes in the backdrop of a lack of database about the increasing number of unauthorised constructions in the city.

The planning authorities have started a survey in Kodambakkam, LB Road (Adyar), Shanthi Colony (Anna Nagar) and Second Avenue, Anna Nagar, where there are a large number of illegal commercial establishments.

A CMDA official said that the state government wants to curb the mushrooming of illegal structures in the city.

This is the continuation of the CMDA’s joint exercise with the city corporation in identifying commercial establishments that had violated building plans.

“The monitoring committee appointed by the Madras high court had urged the city corporation to expedite the survey in Kodambakkam.

Once this survey is completed we will be able to have a database of buildings that have violated the building plan.

The survey report will be tabled in the monitoring committee and forwarded to the state government for further action,” the official explained.

“Only after the high court intervention is there some action by the authorities concerned and still a lot of illegal buildings continue to mushroom in central Chennai.

I will approach the court again seeking justice,” said civic activist T. Solomon, who had filed a PIL in the high court seeking action against illegal buildings in the city.

“Last month former commissioner P.W.C. Davidar introduced a system to regulate building plan approvals.

Under the new system, field engineers have to inspect the construction site within 10 days and have to sign the plan approval acknowledging that the progress is according to the approved plan,” a corporation official said.