CMDA flayed for delay in issuing planning permits

Further, they point out that the CMDA officials take a long time-- sometimes as much as two years-- for providing approval and instruct the builders to submit all the documents, which are already with the CMDA. According to sources, the CMDA is playing a major role in formulating Detailed Development Plan (DDP) and Master Planning, in CMA. That being the case, the powerful government body should have all details like main areas, water bodies, industrial areas and other main government places, say builders who seek planning permission from CMDA.

Dr R Kumar, former Deputy Planner of CMDA and Managing Director of Navin Housing and Properties Private Limited, said, “Two decades ago, the time for approval was very reasonable, in most cases. In some clear cases, approvals for apartment projects were given within merely 15 to 20 days. However, things are different now, as it takes two to three years to get approval from the CMDA. Of course, there are several NOCs and certificates sought by the CMDA from several departments like Traffic Police, PWD, Revenue, Local body, Fire, Airport and Environment departments and each of them take a long time, he added.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu Construction Engineers and Contractors Association (TCECA) has demanded that CMDA rope in various agencies to reduce the time in approving lands. “Since approval for lands is consuming a lot of time, the officials should try to call for various agencies, including registered private agencies, so that such issues come to an end,” said N Govindasamy, president of TCECA. He stressed that the CMDA officials should make online services effective.

A Senior Planner of CMDA, said that they are aware of such issue. “Since urbanisation is on the rise, we need to be careful. The builders should submit necessary documents like environmental clearance certificate, PWD clearance certificate and patta from revenue officials,” the official said and added that they need to verify all these documents.

Once the certificates are cleared, the approval process by CMDA would follow soon. “Most builders fail to submit even a single necessary certificate. Thus we are not in a position to approve the project,” the planner added.