If one is planning to construct a residential building or an apartment in Ranchi one may have to keep one’s plans in abeyance for unspecified time.
Due to the acute shortage of competent staffs in the Town Planning (TP) department of RMC, a common man’s dream of owning a house or constructing an apartment cannot become a reality in the specified time.
The TP department is functioning with just one town planner and less than required numbers of Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers and Ameens.
Significantly, in 2013, the RMC received applications for around 452 maps however only seven maps out of as many applications were approved by the TP department so far.
Applications for around 84 maps for apartments and 368 maps for residential buildings were submitted for approval in this year but the TP approved only two and five maps respectively.
According to sources in the RMC, most of the applications are rejected or kept in pending due to lack of other mandatory documents needed to be enclosed with the maps.
The department claims that the work is not getting affected due to staff crunch, however, the claim cannot be corroborated due lack of data on the number of maps rejected or pending in 2013. Contrary to the claim, the department is still occupied with maps submitted in 2012 and previous years.
Interestingly, the RMC ropes in staffs posted in other departments to work for the Town Planning. “We have hired workers on contract and rope in officials from engineering department also when need arises,” said PRO, RMC, Naresh Kumar Sinha
Meanwhile, the RMC is likely to increase the number of officials in the TP department to expedite the process of map approval.
A Town Planner (TP), an Assistant Engineer (AE) and six Junior Engineers (JE) will be recruited by the RMC. The personnel will be hired on contract for three months. “We will complete the recruitment process by May 11,” added Sinha.