The circular also directs the field level officials to send the query letters to the applicants within 15 days of receipt of application after completing site inspection, which would prevent the officials from deliberately delaying to process the applications. “Query should be raised only once and additional queries can only be raised if there is any flaw in the reply,” the circular added.

The local bodies might be considered only when there are any discrepancies in qualifying road width in case of layout and building proposals. “Field-level officials should clear the proposals (applications) within their power delegation not exceeding 30 days of receipt of proposals.”

Earlier in another circular, the DTCP had delegated powers, of granting planning permissions for the residential, commercial, institutional, industrial use non-high-rise buildings, with less than total FSI area of 2500 sqm and 18.3 metres high, to the field level officials of local planning authorities.

“Applications to be forwarded to head office for clearance should be done so within 15 days and the details of layouts approved should be uploaded in the website,” the circular said.