CMDA report links rise in illegal constructions to lack of staff in enforcement cell

Enforcement cell has only 57 staff as against the need for 1,000 to curb illegal constructions

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) enforcement cell has only 57 staff as against the required strength of more than 1,000 to curb illegal constructions, according to a report.

Linking the rise in unauthorized constructions in the city to lack of adequate and qualified staff in the enforcement cell, the CMDA report which was submitted to the government recently, states that currently the enforcement cell has only 57 staff as against the requirement for 637 staff. And now with the city’s expansion, there is a further need for 580 staff, which has to be added to the required strength of 637 staff.

The gross imbalance between the number of unauthorised constructions coming up and those against which action has been initiated is mainly due to the lack of adequate staff, total disregard shown by violators to goverment machinery because of either non-awareness of the need to abide by rules while constructing or because they are fully aware of the inadequate staff in CMDA, the report added.

On top it, the CMDA has also unqualified staff, who are burdened with the responsibility of checking unauthorised constructions and also issuing Planning Permission as a result of it the rift widens further between the number and

speed of unauthorised constructions and the number of cases in which action is

being taken, both within the city and in the rest of Chennai Metropolitan Area, the report added.

With Chennai Metropolitan Area sprawling over a vast expanse of 1189 sq km with several exclusive administrative entities such as one Corporation under its Commissioner; 16 Municipalities under the Commissioner of Municipal administration, 20 Town Panchayats under the Director of Town Panchayats and 10 Panchayat Unions under the District Collector and a Development Authority also involved in enforcement, not only it has become difficult to monitor and fix responsibilities for any lapses in enforcement, it has also become easy for these local authorities to pass the buck onto CMDA where enforcement is concerned, the CMDA report said.