Madras State Housing Board Works Code Chapter I, Organisation and Activities of the Engineering Branch

What the code governs

The Madras State Housing Board Works Code, Chapter I, explains the organisation and work of the Madras State Housing Board's Engineering Branch. It must be read with the Madras State Housing Board Act and the rules or regulations made under that Act.

The procedures cover:

• Preparing estimates and obtaining administrative and technical sanctions.
• Inviting tenders for works or supplies and executing agreements.
• Executing and measuring works and paying contractors' claims.
• Keeping custody and accounts of stock, tools, plant and materials.
• Maintaining and compiling works accounts.
• Defining the duties, responsibilities and powers of engineering and accounts officers.

Housing activities covered

The Madras State Housing Board may frame and execute its own housing or improvement schemes. It may also take over a scheme undertaken by a local body or execute a scheme transferred by the Government.

The Board is described as an implementing agency for Central Government or State Government assisted schemes, including Low-Income Group Housing, Middle Income Group Housing, slum improvement and clearance, land acquisition and development, subsidised industrial housing and rental housing. It also plans and coordinates housing activities, scrutinises government-sponsored or assisted projects and may conduct research to speed construction and reduce building costs.

Responsibilities of officers

• The Chief Engineer is the chief technical officer and is responsible to the Chairman for the efficient working of the Engineering Branch.
• Superintending Engineers administer circles, inspect important works, review expenditure, examine accounts and measurement books, and supervise compliance with works and stock procedures.
• Executive Engineers manage entrusted works. They cannot commence work or incur liability without sanction from the competent authority, or make more than trifling deviations from sanctioned designs.
• Executive Engineers are responsible for site materials, estimates, works accounts, expenditure monitoring, contractor and supplier claims, and action where costs exceed sanctioned estimates or administrative approval.
• The Chief Accounts Officer oversees the Board's finance and accounts organisation, scrutinises financially significant proposals, compiles the budget and exercises budgetary control.
• Accounts Officers conduct internal audit, scrutinise sanctions and monitor the disposal of audit objections.

Relevance to property buyers and owners

The Madras State Housing Board Works Code, Chapter I, is primarily an internal works administration document. It may affect how Board housing projects are approved, constructed, supervised and paid for, but the supplied text does not establish property title, sale conditions, allotment rights or buyer charges.