CMDA Eases Norms For Planning Approval

Revenue certificate need not be filed with planning application

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has eased the process of obtaining planning approvals. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court had made it mandatory to obtain a certificate from the revenue authority before getting planning approvals two weeks ago. After receiving several complaints from various quarters, the CMDA has directed that the revenue certificate may be furnished within one month of applying for planning approvals.

On February 9, the CMDA member secretary A Karthik passed an order that a certificate from revenue authorities is mandatory while submitting applications for planning permission. The diktat was issued after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High court ruled that local planning authorities as well as Metropolitan Development Authorities should be directed by the government not to grant approval for any layout or building plan if the land is located either in part or in whole in a waterbody.

In the order, it was specified that the revenue certificate should state that the site is not a waterbody or poromboke land, and that it is not covered under land ceiling or land acquisition.

However, soon after the order was issued, the agency began receiving several complaints explaining the difficulties of obtaining the certificate from revenue authorities, prompting it to relax the rule. Thus, on February 26, the member secretary issued a fresh order in this regard stating that the certificate may be furnished within a month.

“Lot of representations expressing difficulties in producing such certificates from revenue department at the time of submission of planning permission applications were made to member secretary. Considering the practical difficulties. CMDA will take undertaking from applicants to produce the revenue certification within a month’s time,” the member secretary stated.

Proposals on CMDA approved layouts or additional constructions where planning permission has already been issued are valid, the official added in the order.

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