Three engineers to check 11K violations

In the report, the corporation said, “Currently, there are only two assistant engineers along with one area executive engineer and one executive engineer in the town planning wing who have to look after all building plan approvals along with enforcement action for the entire north region.”

The corporation had drawn six assistant engineers involved in civic works in six wards falling in the George Town area to conduct the survey.

“There is an acute shortage in the number of field engineers in our ward. Still we managed to issue notices to every violator. Area engineers are burdened with additional duties,” said Ms N. Nagamani, ward 59 councillor. “Now that every resident has violated the norm and has built structures, residents approach us saying that they would pay the penalty and the civic body should not raze the building,” she added.

In the status report, the corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) stated that only one per cent of buildings in the George Town (Sowcarpet) area were constructed without any violations. On Friday, the Madras high court asked the advocate general to place before the court the steps and mechanism by which the government proposes to deal with this problem.

The report submitted by the corporation stated that only 72 out of 11,304 buildings had adhered to norms. The CMDA’s report added that out of 11,304 buildings surveyed, 10,381 had violated norms. Six wards of Chennai corporation (54, 55, 56, 57, part of 59 and 60) fell under the area where the report was made.

According to the report, since the beginning of this year, 607 notices have been issued calling for approved plans, 162 lock and seal notices have been issued, 26 de-occupation notices issued and 12 buildings have actually been sealed, it was pointed out. Ward 54 councillor R. Prathap Kumar said staff strength is yet to be increased despite the city growing larger in 2011. “Corpor ation limits were extended and my ward now includes three old wards, but the number of engineers is still the same,” Mr Kumar said.

Mr Mohammed Ali Jin nah, chairman, standing committee, town planning, refused to speak about the corporation’s move.A corporation official said outsourcing of postings was expected to happen but following the court’s direction, the government will have to decide on filling the vacancies now. “Sowcarpet was always a commercial hub, but the number of high-rise buildings has mushroomed only in the recent past,” said Mr Krishna Nathani who has been residing in Sowcarpet for a decade. “This area lacks every basic amenity but north Indians still throng here just to stay together,” he adds.