Illegal constructions thrive with connivance of corrupt officials

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The illegal constructions in Chennai have been thriving due to the connivance of few corrupt Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority officials who allegedly have links to real estate agencies in different guises.

Some of the officials, including some currently serving in enforcement wing and area plans unit, have links to real estate firms, which is in their wives or relatives name and playing the role of brokers to move the files.

Surprisingly, this also comes in the wake of Madras High Court coming out strongly against the CMDA officials for failure to enforce the planning laws.

Thirty one officers of the CMDA, who are responsible for failure to enforce the planning laws and thereby paved the way for unauthorised constructions were impleaded by the High Court.

The lack of action and the failure to fix the responsibility has emboldened many of the officials. Even, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption suggestion to initiate disciplinary proceedings against these officials failed as CMDA dropped charges against corrupt officials.

 Some of the cases which resulted in DVAC probe included Manapakam unauthorized construction, T Nagar unauthorized construction, Anna Nagar unauthorized construction, cases pertaining to Hotel Shan, a fake non-objection certificate resulting in awarding of completion certificate and cases relating to Choolaimedu unauthorized construction.

 Sources said in all the cases DVAC conducted a detailed enquiry and submitted the report to the government which issues a Government Order for disciplinary proceedings against erring officials by CMDA.

 Interestingly, none of the officials are punished so far. Sources say the lack of action against those tainted officials is that most of the enquiry is dropped due to procedural lapses which include lack of manpower, availability of vehicles as well as huge work load besides various other petty reasons.

“Till now hardly any punitive action has been taken against the CMDA employees and even the top officials are aware of the time taken to clear the file,” a builder, on condition of anonymity said.

But the biggest culprit is the legal cell of CMDA. “They never vacate the stay in the court,” says a builder who has been fighting a legal battle over a property.

“If one goes by the number of lock and seal cases pending in the court and the failure to vacate the stay by the legal department. Then one can get a clearer picture on the ground reality,” he says.

Deivasahayam says the officials in CMDA allegedly try to use the opportunity as there is no system to monitor the buildings. “If a stop work notice is issued, then it is time for them to make money,” he alleges.