CHENNAI: A World Bank project to build an underground diesel storage tank in Kottivakkam on East Coast Road was given a completion certificate by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s enforcement cell last year turning a blind eye to alleged deviations. When the anomaly was discovered earlier this year, the CMDA salvaged its pride by rejecting the plan permission for the project, but not before it causing an embarrassment for the planning body.The deviations were in the form of a vacuum circuit breaker panel and a ring main gear that reportedly did not exist in the original plan. What is more surprising is that the two structures, situated in the setback area with the dimensions of 5.4 m x 8.4 m x 15 m, affected six parking lots shown in the approved plan and existed at the time of issuance of completion certificate. Interestingly, it was noted as allowable deviation and no objection was raised by officials of the enforcement cell.The proposal to construct the underground diesel storage tank at an approved site in Taramani in Kottivakkam village was submitted by the World Bank in October 2009. After the tank was completed, the CMDA had issued a completion certificate overlooking the deviations on May 5, 2010. However, in course of an inspection in September the same year, the CMDA officials noticed the deviations and recommended that the structures be removed and relocated as they were not covered in the original plan.After a subsequent inspection, when the World Bank failed to comply with the CMDA’s recommendation, the plan permission was rejected on Feb 2, 2011. However, the World Bank, on June 21 this year, has once again urged the planning body to reconsider the case stating that the completion certificate had been issued for the main building and the alleged structures in no way affected the free movement of vehicles and that they were only temporary structures open to sky with less than four metres height.“After issuing the completion certificate, now the CMDA is raising objections to remove the structure, which appears to be not sustainable,” said informed sources, adding that it showed the enforcement cell in bad light.
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