Municipal Corporations can now approve layouts: Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel gave the Municipal Corporations the sole authority to approve building layouts. Earlier, the Town and Country Planning Department, which includes Municipal Corporation, has been responsible for passing layouts. People had to get their designs cleared from both the offices.  

He proposed that urban civic bodies be allowed to own freehold properties and that their Chief Municipal Officer be elevated to the rank of Gazetted Officer. This significant decision was made by the CM Baghel during a review meeting of the Environment and Housing Department and the Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh.

The Town and Country Planning Department reportedly granted commissioners of 13 municipal corporations, including Raipur, Birgaon, Durg, Bhilai, Charoda, Raigarh, Risali, Rajnandgaon, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Dhamtari and Korba, the authority to approve layouts within their jurisdictions. Additionally, it was noted in the announcement that the task of approving the layout will be crucial for the technical implementation of the master plan. Only the officers who hold the educational requirements for first and second class officers of Chhattisgarh town and country planning may be given the duty of carrying out work under the delegated authority. For layout approval, the relevant municipal corporations will be required to select a town planner.

Ex-post facto approval must also be obtained for all layouts from the representatives of the Town and Country Planning Department of the relevant district within a month of the approval of the development permit. The Town and Country Planning Department’s website will need to show the development permits that need to be approved. The Office will need a copy of approval that have been granted. The representatives of Town and Country Planning will have the authority to physically inspect and review the approvals that have been granted. Fee, revenue, penalty, etc. will need to be deposited under the relevant sections of the Chhattisgarh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Act. Infractions of the Chhattisgarh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Act, Chhattisgarh Bhoomi Vikas Adhiniyam, and the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning Rules and Development Plan will be the responsibility of the municipal corporation in question.