GCC does mass transfer in town planning dept

Chennai: Days after announcing that all building approvals must be issued within a maximum of 27 days, Greater Chennai Corporation has now transferred all the executive officials from its Town Planning department.Ten officials in the headquarters including assistant engineers, assistant executive engineers, and four ministerial staff including executive engineers and superintending engineers were transferred. Many were serving for nearly ten years in the department.Town planning wing of GCC is among the cash-rich departments which gives building approval for projects running into several hundred crores a year. The department also gives construction permits for four categories of buildings, including residential and commercial units of stilt plus three floors, and all kinds of institutions and industries. It also gives demolition permission.Officials said many of the existing officials have served for over ten years in the same department, and were promoted from only within.“We recently issued circulars to curb corruption and kickbacks in building permits, and directed officials to issue permits by 18 days for applications without queries, and 27 days for application with queries. The GCC too requires a newer set of officials who may not be part of the old scheme of things as people must not face red-tapism and struggle to get building plans approved. Hence, we’ve initiated the mass transfer,” the official said.Usually, selective officials are transfered based on requirements, vacancies and seniority but this is the first time an entire department is transfered.A communication from municipal administration and water supply department secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi on Wednesday, sent to all officials, directed officials to ensure zero tolerance to delays in building plan approvals.“Delays must be avoided and online payment must be focused. Disciplinary action will be taken against errant staff,” it said. It also mandated weekly revenue meetings.“Weekly meeting on revenue collection with bill collectors has to be done and the list of defaults must be reviewed separately,” it said.The GCC has also barred officials from summoning applicants, architects and engineers to offices.