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Kerala: LSGD clears buildings for permit renewal despite violations


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special committee, under local self-government department (LSGD), has recommended renewal of permits beyond 10 years for a few commercial and residential highrises in state disregarding the grave violations reported against these constructions.

A meeting of the committee was chaired by former additional chief secretary (LSGD) T K Jose on February 12, the day cabinet decided to shift him.

Sources confirmed that officials were forced to prepare a draft of the minutes of the meeting, clearing the buildings for renewal of permits, that night itself. On February 14, the government issued an order transferring Jose to PWD. The minutes of the meeting carry the signature of additional chief secretary dated February 17.

It is also learnt that the agenda for the meeting was revised to insert an item regarding extension of permit of a building, reportedly at the behest of another top official. The five-member committee, which includes LSGD principal secretary, director of urban affairs, chief town planner, district officer of town planning department and secretary of civic body concerned, considered applications for renewal of permits beyond 10 years. The secretary of a civic body grants extension for a period less than 10 years.

The minutes of the meeting showed that a commercial-cum-residential building (7,471.24 sq m) in Kozhikode corporation, a residential flat (3,832.75 sq m) in Tripunithura municipality, a residential-cum-apartment building in Thrikkakara municipality (1,21,049.18 sq m), a commercial building (869.54 sq m) in Perumbavoor municipality and a special residential and commercial building in Irinjalakuda municipality (3,373.17 sq m) were cleared for renewal of permits. This was cleared though district town planner and chief town planner enlisted major violations from approved plan for each construction. The rule says that any deviation from approved permit should lead to revocation of permit, following a hearing process.

For the building in Thrikkakara, senior town planner recommended against extension of building permit, citing rule violations regarding access, height, environmental clearance and violation of Kochi structure plan. The chief town planner remarked that NOC issued to the building was regularized in 2015 despite major rule and scheme violations and it was a major fault by the officials concerned. The government was also ordered to stop construction activities and to take action after investigation by LSGD (vigilance wing).

The minutes also showed that the construction was not even permissible as the site came under agriculture zone as per the structure plan for the city. Despite these remarks, LSG recommended renewal of permit, forcing the committee to recommend extension of permit for two years for two towers and the municipality was asked to issue permit extension immediately.

Jose did not respond to request for comment via call and message. The officials with town planning department refused to comment on the decisions.





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