C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Housing
and Urban Development Department has done away with conditional
approvals for environment clearance, structural stability, and fire
service, which was in place since 2014, raising concern among the
developers and residential sector.
The government has been giving
conditional approvals to developers since 2014. The approvals which
are required for the project are taken simultaneously once the planning
permission application has been submitted. "We decided to do away with
the approvals as there have been a lot of complaints over granting
conditional approvals," said housing secretary S Apoorva.
This
norm was changed two days ago after developers approached Chief minister
M K Stalin over the delay in clearing High Rise building proposals.
The
Housing Secretary in a communique has stated that applications should
have structural stability certificate, environmental clearance
certificate and no objection certificate from fire service department as
it concerns with the safety of occupants of the building and it is
pointless to examine the proposals without that.
What is irking
the developers is that proposals have been sent to the Housing secretary
of which few without the requisite NoCs got approval while the
remaining were returned on the grounds of NoC not being submitted.
Apporva defended the decision. "Initially, a few files were considered
but when I found that few of the applications don't have even the basic
plan, the decision was taken," the housing secretary stated.
"How
could a section of the applications without the required NoCs be
cleared," questioned a developer. Recently, the Confederation of Real
Estate Developers Association of India (Credai) has expressed concern
over pending high-rise building (HRB) files awaiting approval from the
Housing Department.
Credai has stated that some files that
received clearance during the panel meeting held on May 22 have not made
progress towards final approval despite multiple representations. "The
delay in processing HRB files is causing considerable hardship and these
delays translate into substantial financial setbacks and project
disruptions, hampering the growth and development of the real estate
sector," Credai stated in a letter to the chief minister recently. It is
learnt from sources that a fresh representation will be submitted to
the Chief minister.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Housing department does away with conditional approvals
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: Bharti enters into a binding agreement with its jo...
Bharti enters into a binding agreement with its joint venture partner AXA to acquire 49% stake
Chennai:
Bharti has announced that Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited the group’s holding company of Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited, has entered into a binding agreement with its joint venture partner, AXA, to acquire their 49% stake in the Company. The transaction is subject to receipt of requisite regulatory approvals. This will result in BLVPL owning 100% stake in the Company, post-completion of the transaction.
Pursuant to Bharti’s and AXA’s decision to merge Bharti AXA General Insurance with ICICI Lombard in 2020, and the subsequent exit of AXA from the shareholding of ICICI Lombard, BLVPL has now entered into an agreement to acquire AXA’s 49% shareholding and fully own the Company. Bharti’s intention is to ensure that the Life Insurance business continues to serve the Indian market and, in this regard, it is engaging with other strategic and financial investors to partner and or combine, so as continue to scale this business. The transaction is expected to close by December 2023, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.
writingonblog uncensored: Change of Guard in MES, Chennai
Change of Guard in MES, Chennai
Sanjay Ekbote has assumed charge as Additional Director General (Projects) of Military Engineer Services (MES) at Chennai. An officer of the 1985 batch of Indian Engineering Services (IES), he has served in various capacities in MES. During his tenure as Chief Engineer, he had been responsible for construction of strategic Defence infrastructure in the North-East Region. The office of Additional Director General (Projects) executes and monitors all the engineering related services in the military area in southern part of the country, in addition to DRDO, as well as eastern and western seaboard of Indian Coast Guard, a release stated.
writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Port signing MoUs worth Rs 65,000 cr durin...
Chennai Port signing MoUs worth Rs 65,000 cr during GMIS
The huge investment in Chennai Port will give a major boost to trade and commerce and further contribute to Prime Minister vision of “Athmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan', a release stated.
On Wednesday, Chennai Port signed MoUs worth Rs 9,000 crore. The mOus were signed with Defense Research Development Organization; Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited; POSCO India Chennai Steel; Coromandel International Limited; Elite Shipping Agencies India Pvt Ltd and IPRCL, the release added.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: Dak Niryat Kendras to help play a key role in TN a...
Dak Niryat Kendras to help play a key role in TN achieving $1 trillion economy
Tamil Nadu has a vision to become $1 trillion economy by 2030 and the Dak Niryat Kendras opened by India Post last year across the state could help it realise the dream.
Catering mostly to MSMEs and rural industries to access global markets, these kendras have already generated export value of Rs 3.11 crore, said Chief Postmaster General J Charukesi. The kendras have 315 registered exporters as on date. Initially, the soft launch of the kendras happened in December last year and since then it has been expanded, she says.
"Till August, 49 Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras were operational in the state and now it has 65 kendras which is likley to be expanded by the end of the financial year," says G. Natarajan, Postmaster General, Chennai City Region.
Neeraj P S, Assistant Postmaster General ( Business Development) says that Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra serves as a one-stop destination for exporters, providing comprehensive assistance and streamlined processes for export-related documentation, logistics, customs procedures and packing. The centers offer valuable support to businesses, empowering them to navigate the complexities of international trade with ease.
Interestingly, these could slowly turn into export hubs, says Neeraj adding that the department is working towards popularising them in the state. "A majority of DNKs were added this year. We are trying to popularise them through youtube influencers and also through various other measures," he says.
Interestingly, the postal department is marking the National Postal Week starting from Monday with series of events. Charukesi told reporters that the celebrations of National Postal Week has been designedm in line with the emerging role of India Post in the socio and economic development of the country with a theme 'Together for Trust'.
Charukesi, highlighted that India Post is already on the way to achieve the targetted revenue of Rs 717.4 crore. It already has attained Rs 675.82 crore till september this year with six more months to go, said Charukesi. Migrating from 2G to 5G services, Charukesi vows that the issues of connectivity would soon be resolved inthe state. She also said that Postal life insurance and rural postal life insurance has crossed Rs 1,000 crore in the state.
To a query on whether India Post is looking at drones to deliver mails across the state, she said it is a policy decision to be taken by Centre. Drones have been used in Gujarat during Covid-19, she said.
Monday, October 9, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: Searches on two educational institutions resulted ...
Searches on two educational institutions resulted in detection of several hundreds of crores worth unaccounted income
C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Several
hundreds of crores worth unaccounted income have been detected by the
Income Tax department during the searches conducted at two educational
groups, according to income tax department sources.
Highlighting
that the searches have got nothing to do with politics, sources
highlighted that the two educational groups have been evading taxes
while collecting huge amounts as fees from the students. One of the
educational groups is run by DMK MP S Jagathrakshakan while the other is
run by Saveetha group.
The searches were launched three days ago
and the Income Tax department said that a huge amount of cash was found
at both the educational institutions. "We found a huge amount of fee
receipts that were not accounted for. Even a huge amount of jewellery
was also found during the searches," Income tax department sources said.
During
the searches, Income tax department sleuths also found that a huge
amount of cash was also diverted from the Trusts of the institutions.
Highlighting the searches were given a political colour, the Income tax
sources said that the tax evasion which is considered to be huge is
currently being scrutinised.
"We are currently scrutinising the tax evasion, which is likely to run to several hundreds of crores," the source said.
In
the past also various educational institutions have been searched and
the Income tax department has found a huge amount of unaccounted cash.
It is learnt that Chief Minister M K Stalin dubbed the searches at DMK
MP Jagathrakshakan's educational institutions as 'vindictive politics'.
Also
highlighting the searches on government contractor Chennai Radha
Engineering, it is understood that Rs 15 crore worth cash was seized
during the searches.
Thursday, October 5, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: Two educational groups under Income Tax scanner
Two educational groups under Income Tax scanner
CHENNAI:
Two separate groups running educational institutions were searched by Income tax department on Thursday. The searches are being conducted in more than 20 locations.
The searches have nothing to do about politics, sources said. The searches are being conducted at Saveetha group of institutions and institutions belonging to DMK MP S Jagathrakshakan.
The former Union minister has been under the scanner of central agencies earlier also. In 2016, the former Union Minister was under Income tax department who then claimed to have evidence of Rs 650 crore tax evasion after conducting series of raids. The raids were conducted in the educational institutions run by his family including the Bharath University in East Tambaram, Sree Balaji Medical College in Chrompet and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences in Puducherry
The DMK MP was also under Enforcement Directorate scanner in the year 2020 . The properties of the MP and his family members, worth Rs 89.19 Crore, were seized by Enforcement Directorate (ED) for acquiring foreign securities in Singapore based company in contravention of Section 4 of Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Investigations then revealed that Ion June 15, 2017, Jagathrakshakan and his son Sundeep Aanand had subscribed to 70,00,000 shares and 20,00,000 shares respectively (valued at Singapore $ 1/- per share) of Silver Park International Pte. Ltd., Singapore, without obtaining the approval of Reserve Bank of India. Further, these unauthorized acquired shares were transferred by Jagathrakshakan to his family members in contravention of Section 4 of FEMA read with Regulation 3 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004.
Monday, October 2, 2023
writingonblog uncensored: MTC struggling to operate bus services due to shor...
MTC struggling to operate bus services due to shortage of more than 600 drivers
Bleeding financially, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, the lifeline of Chennai commuters, is struggling to provide adequate bus services due to shortage of bus drivers. It is learnt that MTC requires 8,487 drivers to operate 3,233 services. However, the corporation has only 7,885 drivers at its service.
According to official sources, due to shortage of drivers an average of 500 services are not being run daily. It is learnt that the shortage of drivers would increase by the end of this year when 35 are going to retire from service due to superannuation.
Following complaints over non-availability of adequate bus services, drivers are being insisted to perform extra duties on an average of Rs 835 per driver per shift as extra duty wages but permanent drivers are unwilling to put in extra hours as a result it is impacting scheduled services, sources said.
As a result state transport units drivers have been engaged for a period of four months on daily wage of Rs 800 plus collection bata per shift to operate scheduled services. Since the four month contract is to come to an end on October 2023, it is learnt that the board is likely to decide on extension of the driver services for a further period of time.
It is not only a shortage of manpower, MTC is struggling financially to ensure operation of its regular services in the city. With an accumulated loss of Rs 14,229.73 crore, MTC's current liabilities exceeds its current assets by 3845 crore. The total liabilities of MTC is 12,771 crore backed by assets of Rs 696 crore. A shortfall of assets worth Rs 12,075 crore is noticed, according to an audit report.
Similarly, employees recruited on or after April 1, 2004 come under contributory pension scheme where in the contribution by the employee is 10% of salary while matching contribution is made by MTC recovering 10% salary from its eligible employers. This is transferred to the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority. As on March 31, 2023, the dues on contributory pension scheme (employers and employees share) amounts to Rs 743 crore (in 2021-22 it was Rs 634.42 crore) in the book of accounts but payment has yet to be made following receipt of the government.
The government is also reimbursing MTC over the loss on issue of concessional tickets which comes to around Rs 876 crore. These include the women free travel concession which comes to Rs 528 crore, concession for students (Rs 317 crore), transgender free travel (Rs 30.70 lakh), Disabled and escort free travel (Rs 3.59 crore), Senior citizen tokens worth Rs 19.58 crore and concession for physically handicapped and journalist (Rs 6.75 crore).
writingonblog uncensored: TN availing Rs 1305 crore to introduce urban plann...
TN availing Rs 1305 crore to introduce urban planning reforms
Tamil Nadu government is eligible for funds worth Rs 1305 crore from the Centre to implement projects relating to urban planning reforms which includes creation of master plans for eight cities, urban forests and land pooling schemes, according to a report.
With 95 per cent of the state area being unplanned, the centre is providing Rs 400 crore to usher in the urban reforms. Initially, master plans for Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Tirupur are under preparation while master plans for Salem, Tirunelveli and Vellore are being prepared under AMRUT 1.0 sub-scheme.
The report, 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023- 24' under urban planning reforms based on a meeting conducted by Ministry of Housing and urban Affairs Secretary earlier this month highlights thst the state will be focussing on four components while preparing the masterplan. These include a comprehensive mobility plan for eight cities similar to the transport roadmap being prepared for Chennai besides focussing on blue green infrastructure, which include identifying water bodies for preservation and declaring it in the masterplan.
Apart from that the focus will also be on the economy of the eight cities, which will be collected from the Industries Department and Industrial Associations. For secondary information Statistical Handbook prepared by the Department of Economics and statistics will be utilised. Based on these data economic activities and resource centers of the planning area will be identified and proposed land use plan will be prepared.
Similarly, based on the proposals identified under different sectors of the Master Plan such as Transportation, Economy, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure, Heritage and Culture, Tourism etc. the land use plan will be prepared for the planning area. Land Suitability analysis will be done to allocate land use in a scientific manner.
Currently, draft reports of the Master Plans of the eight cities are being prepared. Once completed they ill be presented before the Government by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning for its suggestions after which it will be modified. The draft final master plan will be submitted to the Government for consent under section 24 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 for notification and calling objections and suggestions from the public. It is likely the draft master plan for the eight cities would get the government nod by the end of this year.
Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu government set up a 18-member state high level committee chaired by Chief secretary for drafting the state urban development policy. The policy will cover vision, strategy for spatial development, legislative framework, institutional strengthening, inter departmental coordination, urban planning capacity and other related aspects of urban development.