Govt violates norm, builds taluk office sans permit

This was revealed through RTI petitions filed by M Radhakrishnan, a volunteer from a city-based NGO. The ground-plus-two-floor building, which houses Pallavaram Taluk administration, Senthil Nagar, Chromepet, was built and inaugurated in March without an approved plan.

Replying to the petition, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), responsible for approving high-rise buildings, said the authority had not issued planning permission for the construction of the office. Pallavaram Municipality, responsible for approving smaller buildings, also clarified that the local body had not received any application.

Another activist, David Manohar alleged that the new building had violated town planning norms too. “As per the road width norms, only buildings with ground-plus-one-floor or stilt plus two floors should be allowed in the locality. But the new Taluk office was built as a ground-plus-two-floor structure. The rules are for everyone,” he pointed out. When asked, a CMDA official said that the planning authority has powers only to act on buildings for which permissions were issued by CMDA. “If the building was constructed violating the approved plan, we would take action. For unauthorised buildings, local bodies should take action,” he said.

Pallavaram municipality also refused to assure action against the unauthorised structure. However, a senior official said, “As the building was constructed by a government department, it is easy to avail of planning permission after completing the construction,” the official said.