GHMC’s digitisation drive to ensure accountability

Move to check illegal constructions and cut delay in processing BPS & LRS applications. Even the neighbours can ask for a copy of the building plan to ensure that no deviations take place.

In the last two months, in every Prajavani programme, there has been a particular trend in the complaints that the GHMC has been receiving. Most complaints were directed towards the Town Planning Department against the delay in processing BPS (building penalisation scheme) and LRS (land regularisation scheme)applications and illegal constructions within the GHMC limits.

Many a time Somesh Kumar, Commissioner, GHMC, noted that this particular department was under-staffed and that was the reason for delay in processing the applications. After much contemplation, the civic chief has announced a major makeover for the Town Planning Department. He announced that he would surely bring about a change in the system and ensure a transparent work-environment.

“In the Town Planning Department, we noticed that there are two types of complaints which are most commonly reported. One is about illegal constructions and the second is about the delay in sanctions. The issue of delays has become a pressing complaint. To tackle the problem, we plan to have an online town planning system. Usually, when papers change hands manually, there is a scope for the papers getting de-linked and no one claims responsibility for it. We will be launching a website where people can upload all their papers and maps in a PDF format. We will also enable the citizens to pay their remissions online using credit-cards or in the form of a demand draft, at the citizen’s service centre. By doing so, the citizens and the GHMC would be able to keep a tab on the movement of papers. If an official is sitting on a file for too long, we will surely be able to question him over the delay,” said Somesh Kumar.

The Corporation would be sending an SMS to the respective citizen regarding the movement of his file. He hopes that this action would make the officers more duty-bound and accountable. If an official was found delaying the file longer than required, he would be fined Rs 50 per day. “If the public notices any building violation, they can immediately take a picture and upload it onto a small web application that we would be launching. And since these photos would be time-stamped, there is no chance for the officials to make a mistake. As soon as the complaint reaches the concerned official, the applicant would receive a confirmation SMS,” said the Commissioner.

The GHMC also has plans on tapping the power of social media to make sure that the people are given a digital platform to file their complaints. By doing so, they would also be able to ensure that the people and authorities can follow the paper-trail. In fact, if anyone is planning to construct a structure, the neighbours can demand a copy of their building plan to ensure that there are no deviations from the approved plan.

This programme would take off on a trial basis from January 21 and would then be implemented on a solid platform from February 1.