Tamil Nadu: Lens on officials for faulty reporting of built-up area

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is bypassing major rules and regulations when it comes to issuing consent to operate for industries and educational institutes spread in an area over 20,000 sq m.
As per official data, there are more than 350 such institutes and industries in Chennai alone. A recent petition resulted in a bigger investigation in which TNPCB unearthed that several of its officials did not check the built-up area and conducted proper manual inspection while issuing buildings consent to operate. All these buildings were termed to be below 20,000 sq m despite CMDA documents proving otherwise.
Thiruporur MLA S S Balaji, of the VCK, pointed out that waste disposal from residential communities, industrial establishments, educational institutions and hotels/resorts are a big threat to the environment. "These violations are not just a danger to the environment but also incur a very high loss to the exchequer. This violation is facilitated by official support," he stated.
The three major rules: environmental clearance for industries and institutes above 20,000 sq m, accurate reporting of built-up area , solid waste and sewage treatment processes in place - have all been bypassed. An investigation conducted after complaints were raised showed that the built-up area was 35,000-45,000 sq m as per DTCP and CMDA records, but TNPCB officials had stated the area to be 19,500. It was found in one case that the local officials submitted the inspection report a day before the institute even applied for it.
Those generating above 100kld per day sewage come under the red category, and their approval process are different as the files are sent to senior officials. To bypass this as well, inspections were deferred. The minimum fee for renewal is 40,000 for two years and it changes across categories and built-up area.
CMDA data shows that in Chennai alone, 352 multi-storey buildings and 98 non-highrise buildings have built up area above 20,000 sq m. Of these, permissions for 92 multi-storey building are pending as they had not obtained environmental clearance, data showed.
But TNPCB issued consent to operate to most of them. Despite several attempts, the directorate of town and country planning didn't share information on buildings above 20,000 sq m built-up area and whether they had obtained environmental clearance.
R Kannan, member secretary, TNPCB, stated that after complaints were received, a thorough investigation was conducted and it was found that one educational institute had wrongly mentioned its built-up area. A showcause notice was issued and an inspection was re-conducted. "It was found that the building had a built-up area above 41,000 sq m and not 19,561.57 sq m as quoted in the earlier report. The institute has 700 students and staff. We have initiated action against those providing wrong information," he said.
S S Balaji said that if TNPCB makes it mandatory for all industries that are getting consent to operate to get a NOC letter from the CMDA or DTCP, this corruption can be nipped in the bud. "This way, the TNPCB will have on record, the actual built up area and the facilities in the institute or industry," he said.