THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after several efforts by the City Corporation to drive away the agents who stroll outside the Town Planning Department after office hours, business is ‘thriving’. Or that is what has been confirmed after the five-member committee set up for clearing the complaints regarding building permits in the Corporation held its monthly meeting here on Saturday.It has come to the notice of the Council that many agents have been meddling with the smooth operation of the online building permit system by colluding with designers. Some of the building inspectors and assistant engineers have also been found to be reluctant in endorsing the new online system. A couple of complainants who attended the adalat shared the complaint that the Town Planning Department was making an undue delay in processing their permit applications. According to a Corporation official, the agents exploit the ignorance on the part of the applicants about the online system and the new measures taken by the Corporation. "The online facility is meant to ensure that they get the permit within a specific time. And there is no need to give any money. But the agent would make it feel as if the permit was the result of their toil and would seek money for it from the applicants. There are also designers who give an improper plan first, get it rejected deliberately, and then submit a revised plan. When this gets approved and permit is given, they ask money for it,’’ the official said. When contacted, Deputy Mayor G Happykumar said that the Council was aware of the dubious role of the designers and agents in getting building permits. "In the coming days, we are planning to get rid of such agents who unnecessary meddle with the system. Also, the presence of agents after office hours would be strictly prohibited within the office,’’ he said. In the adalat, which was held on Saturday, 32 cases were taken up. Only 22 complainants turned up. Many of the cases were such that they had to be forwarded to the government. Two cases of delay on the part of Corporation were also resolved. The cases would be checked by the Town Planning Department on Monday and permits would be given on Tuesday. It was also directed that the officials should answer the applications submitted by the public. If there is a rejection or any other changes to be made, it should be let known to the person concerned.
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