Planners oppose temporary filling of posts by CMDA

Chennai:

Planners are opposing the move by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to recruit 54 urban planners to complete the detailed development plan (DDP) for five peri-urban areas on a temporary basis stating that it will hamper the continuity in planning process.

Addressing the Green Building Concept organized by Department of Planning, School of Architecture and Planning Anna University, former president of Institute of Town Planning India and dean of MEASI Academy of architecture Chennai Dr A Sachidananthan said that there is a need for a permanent solution to staff crunch rather than focusing on temporary recruitment.

He said Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority requires permanent trained people so that there could be accountability as well as continuity in planning process.

Interestingly, the post is approved only by authority and has yet to get the government stamp.

Surprisingly, planners allege that delay in many CMDA projects is attributed to diversion of excess staff to some of the units, which is said to be more plum monetarily. For example in area plans unit, CMDA has two chief planners, including one who has been diverted from another unit besides an additional deputy planner against the prescribed strength sanctioned by the authority.

In enforcement section, which has always been a cause of concern over lack of manpower, two posts are lying vacant as it is believed that two officials have been diverted to other units. Surprisingly, in Review Team and Appeal unit, where as per the sanctioned strength only a deputy planner has to be there, it is believed a senior planner has been diverted to the unit above him.

“There is a need to review the posts sanctioned as per Authority Resolution 36/2011 dated Februray 14, 2011. And it is right time that the excess staff can be redeployed to DTCP which is functioning with only 42 per cent staff,” planners said.

Interestingly, planners have also questioned the continuance of planners in Chennai Metro Rail unit as they allege the land acquisition for the project is already completed. “What is the need to have additional eight staff in metro rail unit and what work would they do when CMRL as an entity is carrying on the entire work. The government need to rethink on the issue,” the planners added.

Interestingly, there has been a separate rail transport division and road transport division created in CMDA. But these units are only on paper and could have been utilized to coordinate with CMRL.

Earlier, Dr Abdul Razak Mohammed, professor and head department of planning SAP Anna University said the objectivity of the Green building concept is to generate awareness among students about the challenges of town planning towards making green cities and to create platform for town planning professionals, researchers and students to discuss about the issues, practices, planning and design of green cities. Vice chancellor of Anna University P Kaliraj and H Malleshappa, director of department of environment also spoke on the occasion