COIMBATORE:The Local Planning Authority (LPA) has started to issue warning notices to colleges and educational institutions regarding construction of unapproved buildings.
However, the Association of Licensed Building Surveyors (LBS) has called it a violation since the state government is yet to reply to the High Court regarding the role of the LPA in issuing building approvals. The High Court sought a reply on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by the association.
The technical convener of the association, Kanagasundaram, who had filed the PIL, said, “We had stated in the petition that the stipulation in the Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 of a planning permission by LPA/DTCP is redundant and unconstitutional and the local body (corporation) has independent powers to approve as per the 74th Amendment Act, 1992.”
According to him, the matter was decided in their favour and the Tamil Nadu government was directed to act within three months.
“Since the judgment was delivered on March 5, LPA, Coimbatore has suddenly started issuing warning notice to colleges, asking them to apply for building approval,” he quipped.
As per a recent notice issued to a private college, the college authorities have been asked to apply for approval of buildings which were constructed without the approval of the LPA.
The college has been warned that the building would be sealed and equipment seized if it failed to apply for approval within 30 days.
Source said that the notice does not clarify whether it is applicable to construction already completed or ongoing.
Speaking on the issue, Member Secretary (in-charge), LPA, Coimbatore, Mathivanan, said, “Notices were issued to colleges and educational institutions two years ago for not obtaining approvals from the LPA for various constructions. Most of them have not applied for approval even after the notices were issued.”
To remind them to apply within 30 days, we have issued the warning notices again recently, he added.