Building licences: MCC to act soon

09 November 2009

The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) council, at its meeting on Friday, resolved to find a solution within a week to problems related to building licences, which have cropped up after the master plan for the Mangalore region came into effect from October 1.

Councillors alleged that the corporation’s town planning officer had recalled some building licences issued recently stating that the applicants would have to submit fresh building plans in accordance with the provisions of the new master plan. Those applicants had submitted their building plans much ahead of October 1, the councillors said. They alleged that the applicants were being harassed by the town planning section. The members said that the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which had prepared the master plan, had not revealed the details of the plan to the people.

In such circumstances, how could the corporation expect people to re-draft the building plans? They wanted to know what prevented the town planning section from approving the plans filed before October 1. The town planning officer was withholding some applications, members said.

Master plan

K.N. Vijayaprakash, Commissioner of the corporation, said that since the master plan had come into effect, certain issues would have to be addressed afresh. These issues would be discussed with the Chairman and Commissioner of MUDA and the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada shortly. A decision would be taken within a week, he said.

Property tax

Mayor, M. Shankar Bhat, said that the Government had not yet approved the property tax rates revised by the council under the self-assessment scheme. The Government had sought some clarifications from the Deputy Commissioner, he said. M. Shashidhar Hegde, former Mayor, said that the civic body had not yet released the Rs. 15-lakh fund that was meant to be spent by each councillor in their wards. As a result, development works had come to halt, he said.

Directives

The Mayor said that all junior engineers had been asked to submit proposals for the developmental projects to be taken up in each ward. The Commissioner had issued orders that potholes on the roads be filled at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 lakh in each ward.

Special meeting

The Mayor said that a special meeting would be convened before November 10 to discuss the progress of various projects taken up by the administration with the Asian Development Bank loan in the city.

source the hindu