GUWAHATI, Aug 10 - The Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers� Association (AREIDA) has hailed the proposed computerised automated online building permission system, being launched by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) on August 17, as a foolproof and manipulation-proof one.
AREIDA president PK Sarma said in a statement here today that the new system was a long sought after one and the Association demanded it to safeguard the interests of the applicants. �We have examined the system and are quite satisfied that it is foolproof and manipulation-proof,� he said.
On the issue of widespread public complaints on harassment of the applicants, who seek building permission, Sarma said the AREIDA has formally drew the notice of the Government to the plight of the applicants as well as the fact that the building byelaws are in force with as many as 19 serious errors, including the parking norms, which lead to grave implications on the ground.
In this connection, Sarma said that the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, MGVK Bhanu, held a meeting with the Commissioner of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Chief Executive Officer of the GMDA and the AREIDA president on the issue on August 7 at Dispur.
At the meeting, Bhanu acknowledged the harrowing experience of citizens in pursuit of building permission, and issued instructions to the GMC to earmark the fifth date of every month as the building permission day. The GMC Commissioner, along with the officials of the building permission branch of the civic body, would directly meet the applicants and attend to their grievances that day. Bhanu also asked the GMDA to earmark the 15th date of every month for similar exercises.
He also directed both the GMDA and the GMC to dispose of all the applications relating to building permission, within the time limits of respectively 30 days and 45 days as mandated by the Statute. Both the bodies have also been asked to submit their respective compliance reports to the office of the Chief Minister every month, Sarma said.
Sarma urged the authorities concerned that in the greater public interest, the process of rectification of the errors in the byelaws, notified a year and half back, should be concluded without any further delay.
