Bhubaneswar: Taking a serious view of delays in processing building plan approvals, the Odisha government has directed all development authorities, municipal corporations and urban local bodies (ULBs) to ensure time-bound disposal of pending applications under the Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPAS).
The government also warned that officials responsible for deliberate delays in building plan approvals will face strict action.
Reviewing the pendency of OBPAS applications at a meeting held on Friday, additional chief secretary of the housing and urban development department Usha Padhee stressed the need for greater accountability, transparency and efficiency in the approval process.
Reviewing the status of pending applications, she identified procedural bottlenecks and directed authorities to carry out a data-driven assessment to pinpoint authority-wise and ULB-wise delays. Officials were asked to take immediate steps to clear the backlog and fix responsibility for avoidable delays.
For accountability, Padhee directed authorities to improve digital file tracking and introduce an escalation mechanism for applications pending beyond seven days, so that such cases can be reviewed at higher levels without delay. Officials were instructed to strengthen the SUJOG platform with better monitoring and tracking mechanisms to ensure transparent processing of applications.
Applicants should receive clear information regarding approval requirements, procedures and timelines, while unnecessary queries from departments should be avoided, she said.
Underlining the need for citizen-friendly service delivery, Padhee called for simplification of guidance documents and wider dissemination of information through digital platforms, explanatory videos and other communication tools.
The need for leveraging technical expertise available in govt engineering colleges and polytechnics to support planning-related processes was highlighted.