Proceedings No. RT/19948/2011, Delegation of planning permission powers

What the proceedings do

Proceedings No. RT/19948/2011 dated 25 November 2011 were issued by the Member-Secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority after the Corporation of Chennai expanded to 426 square kilometres and reorganised its area into 15 zones. The proceedings confirm that powers previously delegated to the Commissioner, City Engineer and zonal Executive Engineers apply throughout the expanded corporation area.

The confirmation covers delegated powers for issuing planning permission and the earlier delegated enforcement powers. The Commissioner also has delegated power to revoke planning permission issued by the Corporation of Chennai under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.

Who may be affected

Proceedings No. RT/19948/2011 may affect owners, developers and planning permission applicants whose properties are within the expanded Corporation of Chennai area. The official handling an application depends on the type and location of the proposed development and the limits of the earlier delegation confirmed by these proceedings.

The confirmed delegation applies to:

• The Commissioner of the Corporation of Chennai.
• The City Engineer.
• Executive Engineers of the 15 zones, within their respective jurisdictions.

Main delegated functions

The earlier delegation attached to Proceedings No. RT/19948/2011 gives the City Engineer authority over specified developments other than special buildings, group developments, multistoreyed buildings and cinema theatres. It also covers specified places of public assembly, changes of activity, certain refusals of planning permission and limited relaxation of setback requirements for categories within the delegated authority.

Zonal Executive Engineers may deal with:

• Planning permission for ordinary buildings.
• Residential subdivisions or layouts not exceeding 2 hectares, subject to land use, road width and other Development Regulation requirements.
• Refusal of planning permission for relevant land use or planning parameter violations.

The attached delegation identifies eligible plot categories and land use zones. It excludes special buildings, group developments and multistoreyed buildings from the listed general delegation and requires compliance with applicable planning parameters. Developments falling in the Coastal Regulation Zone area are not covered by the listed delegation.

Collection of charges

Proceedings No. RT/19948/2011 require DC and other charges payable to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority when planning permission is issued to be collected and transferred as previously directed. The Commissioner of the Corporation of Chennai was asked to prevent diversion or misappropriation of these amounts because a major audit objection was pending.