NUDA begins online approvals for layouts

Nellore: City residents are now getting permissions for layouts through online using Development Permission Management System (DPMS). This would prevent delay in municipal approvals and avoid involvement of middlemen. Officials can also take action for not following rules and regulations as the NUDA is offering permissions online instantly. 

Consequently, rampant building violations in Nellore are likely to be discontinued as the DPMS is in place. Nellore Urban Development Authority (NUDA) has become reality with announcement from the government at the end of March last year. A GO was issued for the proposed Authority with a total area of 1644.17 sq. km stretching from Nellore Municipal Corporation, Kavali, Gudur, Sullurupeta and Naidupeta municipalities covering 145 villages in 19 mandals of Nellore district and 11 villages in 2 mandals of Chittoor district.

As per the Act, Panchayats can sanction permission for residential buildings up to a height of 10 metres and urban local bodies can also give their nod for any type of building with a height up to 10 metres. Municipal Corporations are empowered to sanction building permissions without any restriction on the height. But, hundreds of apartment buildings besides Kalyana mandapams and shopping complexes built on busy roads without sufficient parking. 

In fact, experts say though online permissions are being granted with terms and conditions there should be physical verification and observation of the actual situation for avoiding any deviations. When Building Penalization Scheme (BPS) was started in 1986 there were only very few deviations with less than 100 in city and it rose to 21,000 by 2017. “Instant permissions through online reduces corruption in civic bodies. 

But, there should be cross checking on delay in scrutiny of documents, inspections, submission of plans by licensed technical personnel. Otherwise, it becomes name sake service to the denizens,” said a retired senior official from the municipal department. As per plans, permission for the construction of buildings, both commercial and residential, measuring between 300 square metres to 1,000 square metres with a height of 15 metres should be obtained from the Corporation in case of Nellore City. 

In other places other than Atmakur, which is not under the purview of NUDA, civic bodies are permitted to sanction approvals up to 300 square metres with height up to 10 metres. People, who plan to construct high-rise buildings with measurements beyond the sanction powers of urban local bodies should obtain permissions from the NUDA. NUDA Vice-Chairman S Dilli Rao informed that No-Objection Certificates for layouts would be issued through online. He said the system provides hassle free approvals.

BY P V  Prasad