The Tamil Nadu government is considering relaxing the regulations outlined in the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules 2019 to allow commercial buildings with an area of up to 1,000 sq. ft to obtain electricity and water connections without the need for a building completion certificate, according to K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.

Under the current rules, there are no exemptions for obtaining electricity and water connections for any type of commercial building, which has created challenges for small-scale commercial activities such as tailoring shops, small retail stores, tea shops, and salons. These businesses require electricity connections under the commercial category but often face difficulties in obtaining building completion certificates.

To address this issue, Kathirmathiyon suggests exempting commercial buildings of up to 1,000 sq. ft from the completion certificate requirement by amending the 2019 Rules.

Coimbatore Consumer Cause has already raised this concern with the government, and it is anticipated that the government will make revisions to benefit small-scale commercial buildings. Additionally, Rule 20(1) does not explicitly state whether a completion certificate is needed to obtain electricity and water connections for residential buildings up to 12 meters in height, not exceeding three dwelling units or 750 square meters (8,072 sq. ft).

The ambiguity caused by the word “or” in this rule has led to various interpretations. The organization urges the government to clarify this point to protect the interests of a large number of residents. They propose that the exemption from the completion certificate requirement should extend to residential buildings up to 12 meters in height with a maximum of 750 square meters (with the possibility of increasing the number of dwelling units beyond three).

It is essential for the government to make amendments to address the challenges faced by small-scale buildings and eliminate any ambiguities in the rules to ensure clarity and fairness.