CHENNAI: Going by the findings of a pilot study conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles, there are over 5,000 unauthorised constructions in Kilapauk, Royapettah and Adyar. The study carried out by Sakura Geo-Information Software Research Private Ltd. to assess the unauthorised constructions in the three wards also noted that the unauthorised constructions raised between 2007 and 2019 increased by 59%.
The three wards, all prime locations with relatively higher market value and guideline value, were taken as representative areas in North, Central and Southern parts of Greater Chennai Corporation. The study aimed to develop a database of streets and different types of buildings; photos and details of ground elevation and identification of buildings constructed before 1999, from 1999-2007, from 2007-2019 and after 2019, in correlation with rules applicable during the particular period.
The focus was also on identifying boundaries of plots and buildings to assess violations of parameters such as floor space index, setback availability and height of the building.
The study report, which was released during a review meeting convened by the Chief Secretary earlier this month, stated that Kilpauk had the highest number of unauthorised constructions. In both Royapettah and Adyar, the majority of violations were observed in buildings constructed between 2007 and 2019. Even four years after 2019, the number of violations captured by the aerial vehicles was 48% in Adyar, 53.8% in Royapettah and 22% in Kilpauk, highlighting the ineffectiveness of the enforcement cell.
In light of the findings, the state government will rethink its regularisation scheme and declare the cutoff date for unauthorised buildings as 2019 instead of 2007. The government had granted amnesty twice for the unauthorised buildings. Still, rather than the violations going down, the number has increased drastically.
The first amnesty scheme to regularise unauthorised buildings built in or before 1999 by amending the Town and Country Planning Act, received constitutional validity when it was upheld by the SC on August 23, 2006. The second scheme was introduced in 2017 to grant amnesty to the buildings raised before 2007. However, this was challenged in the Madras HC stating such an amnesty scheme was a one-time measure.
The biggest challenge for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority with regard to curbing the violations is the small scale of the enforcement cell, which is tasked with tracking violations. The cell has 20 technical staff and 18 ministerial staff. CMDA had put forth the need for 37 additional officers or staff, and 45 outsourced employees. When the state urged the CMDA to furnish financial implications towards the revised staff requirement, it is learnt that the CMDA failed to submit the details and as a result, the enforcement cell was never strengthened.