Mission building flouts approved plan

A proposed building to house the office of the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in south India was constructed in deviation of the approved plan, according to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority(CMDA).

CMDA sources told Express News Service on Tuesday that the applicant had earlier obtained planning permission from the CMDA and constructed the building in deviation of the approved plan.

“Now they have applied to the CMDA for revised approval. It is not within the rules,” CMDA sources said.

It is learnt that the new chancery building in Nungambakam, which would also house the residence of the Deputy High Commission, had violated the rear set backs (RSB), front set backs (FSB) and side set backs (SSB).

“While the Block-I violates RSB, Block II violates FSB, SSB and RSB,” sources said.

Sources said that on the terrace floor, six columns were constructed with a dimension of 11.40 metres X 8 metres with sloping roof and no sidewalls and in view of this, the total height of the building came to 17.25 metres as against the permissible height of 15.25 metres.

Even the height of the compound wall was increased and in addition, a compound wall was constructed between the Deputy High Commissioner’s residence and his office for security reasons, sources added.

“Except the height of the building, the other violations occurred due to provision of compound wall between the residence of Deputy High Commissioner and his office to house the foreign embassy,” sources said.

Meanwhile, when Express contacted Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commission for their reaction, sources said they were yet to hear from the CMDA. “We haven’t been informed. We are awaiting compliance certificate,” sources from the Commission said.
However, CMDA sources said they have already intimated them about the plan violation.

It is also learnt that the CMDA was seeking Housing and Urban Development department’s permission for the proposal after relaxing the relevant provisions of the development regulations.

Though the land for the proposed building was purchased in 2000, the foundation was laid in 2009. The construction of the chancery building was also in keeping with the objective of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, who was keen on reducing the cost of rentals being paid to mission premises in foreign countries, by either buying or constructing Sri Lanka’s own buildings overseas