Govt to ease approvals for construction projects

Government departments involved in granting approvals for construction projects in cities and towns will now come out with necessary notifications by November-end for streamlining approvals for time-bound and hassle-free clearances. This will mean applicants don't have to bring their cases to Delhi for different clearances. 

Moreover, government will also empower the land owners and their architects to make self declarations that their plans comply with norms to get quicker approvals. But if their declarations are found wrong, government agencies will demolish the construction without even giving notice. "We are going to have such stringent provisions for the violators. Even the architect or consultant who has certified wrong information will lose his licence forever," urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

Sources said that a series of decisions to simplify the procedures by delegating more powers to urban local bodies and using technology to ensure time-bound decision on projects were taken at a meeting on October 28. It was attended by three Cabinet ministers and over half-a-dozen secretaries, including cabinet secretary P K Sinha. Besides Naidu, defence minister Manohar Parikkar and culture minister Mahesh Sharma were also present. 

A ministry spokesperson said the ministers and cabinet secretary reviewed the progress made by respective ministries to enhance 'ease of doing business' in urban areas. "The cabinet secretary said streamlining of approvals need to be taken seriously to avoid cost and time overruns and harassment of project developers," the official added.

Online approvals can be obtained using the 'app' developed by ISRO in the case of buildings close to the protected monuments. "The app has been enhanced to a margin of error of only 1-2 metres," said another official. 

SOURCE: magicbricks.com