Headless Chennai devpt body leaves builders worried

CHENNAI: Almost a fortnight has passed since the government shifted a top official of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), but it is yet to find a replacement, raising concerns over delay in approval for housing projects if the situation persists.

Urban development secretary Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, who is CMDA's Vice Chairman (in-charge), also holds additional charge as the CMDA member secretary, besides Commissioner of town and country planning, after former member secretary A Karthik was moved to the department of backward classes, most backward classes and minorities welfare as secretary on June 16.

The chief executive officer's post in the urban planning body, which should be filled by an IAS officer, also remains vacant, while it has not seen a full time vice chairman for about five years.

With all the top posts in CMDA vacant, the construction industry is worried about the repercussions.

Former national president and spokesman of the Builders Association of India (BAI), R Radhakrishnan, said that applicants seeking approval for planning permission may face hardships in the absence of key officials.

"It may lead to delay in clearance for obtaining planning permission, hitting the construction industry hard," he said.

The roles of the member secretary and vice chairman are crucial in the CMDA. For instance, if applicants have not received a decision about their planning permission applications for special buildings not exceeding 50 dwelling units within 21 days, they can represent it to the Member Secretary for appropriate action.

The CMDA is also executing infrastructure projects like construction of a new bus terminus on the city's outskirts.

Meanwhile, the issue over vacancies in the top layer of the CMDA figured in the recent meeting of the Monitoring Committee.

Expressing his displeasure over delay in appointment of civil servants for the key planning body of the government, Monitoring Committee member M G Devasahayam said that the issue was raised in the meeting.

"The CMDA is an independent body created under an act and the Urban Development Secretary should not be given the additional charge of vice chairman," he said.

Senior bureaucrats in the rank of Chief Secretary were appointed as Vice Chairman in the past, he added.

However, CMDA sources clarified that the vacancies will not hamper the routine functioning of the body. Claiming that only major policy decisions are handled by top officials, they said that the maximum impact could be delay in execution by a couple of days compared to the usual period.