Industries oppose amendment to new town planning amendment
C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Wetlands and catchment areas of the city and areas around Kancheepuram
district are slowly being converted into industrial or residential
layouts without the approval of Chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority or Directorate of Town and Country Planning posing threat to
city’s drinking water needs.
This comes in the wake of Supreme Court issuing notice to the Centre
and state to preserve the wetlands. Even the development regulations
of Second Master plan state that Red Hills and Puzhalal lake are main
sources of water supply to the city.
In order to protect this water source from the negating fact of urban
development, contiguous areas in the catchments of these lakes has
been declared as catchment area restricted for development, sources
said.
There are 27 villages covered along the catchment area and these
should not be developed. But unfortunately 70 per cent of the villages
have been developed along the catchment areas not only for residential
but also industrial purposes.
It is learnt that residential layouts are mushrooming in the catchment
area of Gummidipoondi, Thiruvallur district, Cholavaram and other
catchment areas besides industrial layouts in the wetlands of
Kancheepuram without the concurrence of town planning authorities.
Sources told Express that the fault lies with the authorities in
delegating powers to local bodies including the panchayats, who lack
any idea about town planning, to grant planning permission.
It is learnt that most of the residential layouts in catchments areas
as well as wetlands is due to the approval of panchayats. There were
at times when the DTCP or CMDA refused to entertain the plan on
wetland or catchment areas but then it was overridden by the
panchayats who give their stamp of approval.
Even the banks without checking the land use pattern or without
concurrence of CMDA and DTCP or other appropriate authority approvals
agree to provide loans, a source said.
Interestingly, the amendment to town and country planning act 1971 by
inserting section 47 A to regulate the development in the non plan
area and with a view to conserve wet lands in the state and also to
regulate the conversion of wet lands into other uses has put many
industries and developers in a dilemma.
Sources revealed that most of the industries that got approval from
industrial guidance bureau to set up industries are now seeking
exemption of no-objection certificate from district collector for
converting wetland to industrial development.
Interestingly, most of the proposals, including a 100 acre industrial
project of a tyre company on wetland in Kolathur taluk of
Sriperumbudur that came up during DMK regime, is awaiting clearance
from DTCP.
It is learnt most of the constructions by industries could be termed
as illegal as they have mushroomed without any valid permission even
though they were in existence long back.
It is learnt industries have opposed Section 47 A that forces them to
approach DTCP for approval after getting clearance from Panchayats.
Earlier Industrial factory building norms were set by inspector of
factories. Based on that approval, panchayats gave necessary
approvals.
Sources say that with the apex court firm on wetlands not to be used
for construction purpose, it will be difficult for industries as well
as developers to convert it into concrete blocks.
C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Wetlands and catchment areas of the city and areas around Kancheepuram
district are slowly being converted into industrial or residential
layouts without the approval of Chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority or Directorate of Town and Country Planning posing threat to
city’s drinking water needs.
This comes in the wake of Supreme Court issuing notice to the Centre
and state to preserve the wetlands. Even the development regulations
of Second Master plan state that Red Hills and Puzhalal lake are main
sources of water supply to the city.
In order to protect this water source from the negating fact of urban
development, contiguous areas in the catchments of these lakes has
been declared as catchment area restricted for development, sources
said.
There are 27 villages covered along the catchment area and these
should not be developed. But unfortunately 70 per cent of the villages
have been developed along the catchment areas not only for residential
but also industrial purposes.
It is learnt that residential layouts are mushrooming in the catchment
area of Gummidipoondi, Thiruvallur district, Cholavaram and other
catchment areas besides industrial layouts in the wetlands of
Kancheepuram without the concurrence of town planning authorities.
Sources told Express that the fault lies with the authorities in
delegating powers to local bodies including the panchayats, who lack
any idea about town planning, to grant planning permission.
It is learnt that most of the residential layouts in catchments areas
as well as wetlands is due to the approval of panchayats. There were
at times when the DTCP or CMDA refused to entertain the plan on
wetland or catchment areas but then it was overridden by the
panchayats who give their stamp of approval.
Even the banks without checking the land use pattern or without
concurrence of CMDA and DTCP or other appropriate authority approvals
agree to provide loans, a source said.
Interestingly, the amendment to town and country planning act 1971 by
inserting section 47 A to regulate the development in the non plan
area and with a view to conserve wet lands in the state and also to
regulate the conversion of wet lands into other uses has put many
industries and developers in a dilemma.
Sources revealed that most of the industries that got approval from
industrial guidance bureau to set up industries are now seeking
exemption of no-objection certificate from district collector for
converting wetland to industrial development.
Interestingly, most of the proposals, including a 100 acre industrial
project of a tyre company on wetland in Kolathur taluk of
Sriperumbudur that came up during DMK regime, is awaiting clearance
from DTCP.
It is learnt most of the constructions by industries could be termed
as illegal as they have mushroomed without any valid permission even
though they were in existence long back.
It is learnt industries have opposed Section 47 A that forces them to
approach DTCP for approval after getting clearance from Panchayats.
Earlier Industrial factory building norms were set by inspector of
factories. Based on that approval, panchayats gave necessary
approvals.
Sources say that with the apex court firm on wetlands not to be used
for construction purpose, it will be difficult for industries as well
as developers to convert it into concrete blocks.
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