Shortage of planners in CMDA

CHENNAI: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is facing a shortage of chief planners even as the planning body has restored the powers of issuing completion certificates and also refund of security deposit of all buildings to chief planner and senior planner. The power was earlier vested with the member secretary.Sources told Express that the move by CMDA comes in the wake of the planning body facing a shortage of chief planners. The CMDA has a strength of five chief planners, but now two posts are vacant and the third will fall vacant on Feb 29, when chief planner C Palanivelu retires.Sources said the government is not able to fill the posts as there are no suitable candidates. There are a few eligible candidates,  but there are some charges against them. Sources said although CMDA has dropped charges against some of the candidates, the government has yet to give a green signal.