BJP State President K. Annamalai has strongly criticized the ruling DMK government for its recent decision to hike fees for the self-certified building plan approval process. In a statement issued on Monday, Annamalai urged the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin-led government to immediately roll back the increased charges, which he claims place an undue burden on the common man’s dream of home ownership.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer, took to social media to voice his concerns, stating that the DMK government has already made life more difficult for ordinary citizens by raising property taxes, registration fees, and the prices of construction materials. He argued that the latest fee hike is yet another blow, particularly to those in villages, town panchayats, municipalities, and corporations across Tamil Nadu.
“The increase in the building plan approval fee from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh for a 1,000 sqft plot in Chennai is shocking,” Annamalai stated. He accused the DMK of legitimizing corruption by mandating a self-certified approval process that requires such exorbitant fees. “By making this process mandatory, the ruling DMK has effectively made the ‘bribery scandal’ official,” he added.
Annamalai further questioned the logic behind the self-certification requirement, expressing disbelief that the public is expected to certify their own building plans and pay a steep fee in order to obtain approval. He posed a pointed question to the DMK government: “Does the government mean to say that if we pay a high fee, they will grant permission immediately without even reviewing the building plan or visiting the construction site? Or, if we pay a lesser fee, will they delay the approval process?”
The BJP leader’s remarks come amid growing discontent among Tamil Nadu residents over the increased costs associated with construction and property ownership. The hike in building plan approval fees has sparked concerns that it could further inflate the cost of housing in the state, particularly in urban areas like Chennai.