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In future, Chennai might become denser concrete jungle
Posted on: 22/Mar/2019 10:09:01 AM
Don’t be surprised when after some years Chennai and other cities in Tamil Nadu become denser concrete jungles. The important point is the state government had relaxed norms on the minimum open space reservation or OSR land to he handed to local authorities. The main objective of this was to get approvals for layout and building plans.
For developing parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities for public use OSR land is reserved is known. It is said that these green spaces are superb and substitute grey infrastructure. Moreover these spaces provide much needed breathing space in the urban area.
It is worth mentioning here that as per the old norms (government order 222), if the plot area was more than 2500 sqm then 10% of the land must be handed over to the local bodies through a gift deed. As per the new TN Combined Building Rules 2019, OSR is not compulsory for the plots less than 3000 sqm.
The important information is if the plot is between 3000 sqm and 10,000 sqm then the builder can either gift 10% OSR to local bodies or pay the guidelines value of an equivalent land to the registration department.
Government order was issued by the MAWS or state Municipal Administration and Water Supply department in February and the rules came into effect by this GO that make 10 % OSR mandatory for plots having more than 10,000 sqm. Roads that are laid within the plot are excluded in this 10 percent. It is said that the roads usually take up 30% of the land area. The term ‘illegal’ has been used by the experts now because any rule must be based on the provisions in an act and new rules could be formed only by amending the act.
A RTI activist from Coimbatore explained that local municipal corporation acts did not have the provisions pertaining to the OSR land that were added in the new building rules. He then added that neither the acts were amended in the state assembly. According to a senior official belonging to MAWS department, based on the demand of the public, changes were incorporated in the new rules. He also hinted that the government officials from housing and revenue departments were consulted. The MAWS official then explained that people in Anna Nagar etc wanted lesser OSR spaces as more houses near their premises or within their premises could increase their safety.
