Another residents’ association complains against high-rise units
View(s):The Association of Residents of Andarawatta Road, Polhengoda, Colombo 5 (ARAR) has written to the chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to review the practice adopted by them to secure clearance reports.
These are in respect of the surveys of the Central Environment Authority (CEA), National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), Colombo Municipal Council, Water Board, CEB, and the survey concerning the Traffic Impact Assessment by the Katubedde campus.
In a media release, the association says it has urged the UDA to request property developers of high-rise buildings to obtain these clearance reports direct from the institutions issuing them, and also to return them direct to the UDA.
It has pointed out that the current procedure lacks transparency, independence, impartiality and offers scope for the developers to influence the agencies to submit favourable reports.
Pointing out that the association has made strong representations to the UDA about serious traffic problems if a building permit was issued for the construction of high-rise buildings on plot Nos.11 and 15 on Andarawatta road, a favourable clearance report had already been handed over to the UDA by the property developer concerned, “where the scope of the survey had been limited only to parking arrangements within the proposed condominium, totally ignoring traffic problems that would arise on Andarawatte road”.
Fortunately this report was rejected on the appeal of Andarawatta Road residents, resulting in a fresh survey being ordered by the UDA, the release added. This survey report of the Katubedde campus had pointed out serious problems which the movement of heavy vehicles will encounter if allowed to travel on the Andarawatta Road. Even Kirulapona Police had advised against movement of heavy vehicles till the road is widened.
“Even with regard to the Clearance Report on the soil test of the NBRO, residents interviewed Director of Landslides in the NBRO after a Clearance Report had been already sent to the UDA. The Director had pointed out at the interview that due to the high water table on Andarawatta Road, the neighbourhood will suffer serious damages. Unfortunately, the Clearance Report already sent to the UDA had been considered favourable to the property developer,” the release said adding that the NBRO had therefore assured at the interview that they would write to the UDA and state that approval can be given only after guidelines stated in the report have been fully satisfied.