This story is from June 28, 2022

Thiruvananthapuram: Corporation checks recent files for discrepancy in building numbers

In the wake of building number scam in Kozhikode city corporation, the Thiruvananthapuam city corporation has begun scrutiny of building numbers issued at the main office, Fort and Nemom zonal offices in the last two months.
Thiruvananthapuram: Corporation checks recent files for discrepancy in building numbers
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of building number scam in Kozhikode city corporation, the Thiruvananthapuam city corporation has begun scrutiny of building numbers issued at the main office, Fort and Nemom zonal offices in the last two months. Corporation secretary has directed the teams to look into the recent files over the two months to find out whether the online system has been misused to issue numbers to buildings for which completion certificate has not been issued.

As per the procedure, files are forwarded to the revenue wing from the engineering wing after the occupancy certificate is issued. Once a building is found to have been constructed in accordance with the conditions of the building permit, the engineering wing will recommend the building for completion certificate. The revenue wing will process the application on software in a three-stage process involving the user, the verifier and the approver.
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The revenue inspector will do the field inspection and forward the file to the section clerk along with Form 6 containing various information of the building. Once the details are entered, the inspector will verify the information and forward to the concerned official for digital signature. This could be the revenue superintendent in zonal offices or the revenue officer in the main office.
The civic body is looking at possible instances of fraud where unauthorized buildings have been assigned numbers by tampering with the system. The teams are also looking for files where the engineering wing found diversion from the original building plan but revenue assigned numbers to such constructions. Usually in case of buildings undergoing alterations, tax will be revised and a new number will be assigned by retaining the base data. Chances of wiping off the base data and then assigning new numbers to altered structures are also being probed.
The corporation secretary has issued a circular directing that user name and password may be issued to the officials concerned only based on the recommendation of department heads.
There has been an accepted practice in civic bodies where staff share passwords and process files for the sake of convenience. With such practice being heavily misused and leading to fraud, the circular from the corporation secretary warns against such ways of sharing passwords. The original owner of the password will have to bear the financial loss resulting from lapses in handling files, the circular says.
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