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Premier’s proposal causes concern among UDA officials
A proposal by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to return the power of granting planning approvals from the Urban Development Authority to local bodies–which have no automated systems to process applications–is worrying the UDA which spent substantial funds to develop a centralised online system just two years ago.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who holds the urban development portfolio, criticised the previous administration’s move in 2017 to transfer some of the powers of issuing planning approvals from local authorities to the UDA. He made special reference to the “partitioning of lands” and said he strongly believed these privileges should be devolved back to the local authorities.
But there is concern among UDA officials, none of whom wished to be named, that delegating these powers to local bodies without having them automate their own systems first would once again lead to a cumbersome, paper-heavy process that is susceptible to bribery and corruption.
The UDA, which is a central government body, has had authority over planning and implementation since 1978. But as more and more areas began to be declared as urban, the UDA decided it had insufficient capacity to handle planning clearances on its own and delegated powers to Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas in areas defined as urban.
Over the years, however, the practice became unwieldy with multiple sets of forms to fill and endless filing. It also led to bribery and corruption across many local authorities.
In response, the UDA studied systems around the world, including in neighbouring India, where paperless e-governance has been adopted. A policy decision was made in 2016 to start it at the UDA. Examples were drawn from countries like Singapore but to deploy the system, some of the powers devolved to local authorities had to be taken back.
This included planning permission for constructions over 4,000 square feet, buildings over four storeys and developments over 40 perches. “So it immediately rules out small houses or shops, etc, which are still under the purview of local authorities,” a UDA source said. “This only applies to big developments that have significant impact on the environment.”
An online building application system was then introduced making it possible for use it from anywhere in the world. If, however, there are clarifications required (owing to incomplete documentation) the client would need to visit the UDA for which purpose there are also branch offices in most parts of the country.
Clients can also trace where the application is and contact the relevant officer. If bribes are solicited, the mobile numbers of senior and supervisory officials are published online, the source said. However, this newspaper has no independent evidence that this eradicated bribery and corruption.
The UDA gave key performance indicators for every planning officer to measure rate of efficiency and these were assessed in-house. Proponents of this system claimed the average processing time for applications was brought down to 27 working days from 60 to 100 which was the time taken by local authorities.
It was intended to make the approval and clearance process a “single window” by 2022, taking all agencies into one web system which services being provided in one portal. It was also proposed to train and build the capacities of local authorities before in a similar fashion–placing their services online–before delegating back the powers.
This would have ensured continuity of the new, more efficient process. Discussions were in progress with the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Municipal Council and the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council before the administration changed.
There is concern, now, that the entire system will be diluted with privileges being handed back to local authorities before they are automated. This would mean reverting to paper applications, file cupboards and processing at a snail’s pace, the officials warned.
However, the local authorities do have an immediate complaint–that is, their income from granting permissions is lost. They do still issue many other approvals for which they charge fees.
A senior Ministry source said no final decision has been taken on what powers will be delegated back to local authorities. “We have asked the officials to look into the matter,” he explained. “It won’t be divested in the same way as before but it needs more study. We will not change the online system.”