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Urban Encroachment

Encroachments along Cooum river removed

Saturday, 14 November 2009 06:24 administrator
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The Hindu 14.11.2009

Encroachments along Cooum river removed

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The Public Works Department (PWD) on Friday removed a few huts that had encroached upon public land along the Cooum river near Ethiraj College Road.

According to PWD officials, the encroached land would soon be taken over for the Elevated Expressway project to be executed by the National Highways Authority of India.

The department would remove encroachments between the stretch of Ethiraj College Road and Gurusamy bridge, Chetpet covering a distance of 4.2 km to facilitate the first phase of the project.

The 12 families, which were shifted on Friday, would be rehabilitated in Okkiam Thoraipakkam.

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 November 2009 06:41
 

Demolition drive to prevent encroachments on Valankulam

Sunday, 08 November 2009 03:54 administrator
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The Hindu 08.11.2009

Demolition drive to prevent encroachments on Valankulam

Special Correspondent

People build huts to make themselves eligible for the tenements provided for slum dwellers

— Photo: K. Ananthan

Clean city: Threatened by an eviction move, people dismantle a newly put up structure on the Valankulam in Coimbatore on Saturday.

COIMBATORE: A special demolition team of the Coimbatore Corporation on Saturday removed the roof of some houses that were allegedly put up on Valankulam Tank, off Tiruchi Road. But, torrential rain stopped the drive in the afternoon. The Corporation called off the drive when the people living in the slums on the tank promised not to put up new huts.

The drive was carried out in the wake of charges that some people were putting up new huts on the tank to become eligible for the project for houses for slum dwellers. Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra had recently formed a special demolition squad to remove unauthorised structures across the city. Under the Basic Services for the Urban Poor project, the Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board would build multi-storeyed tenements for slum dwellers encroaching water bodies. A town planning official who was part of the drive on Saturday said the Corporation had come to know that some persons were putting up structures in addition to the ones of the families listed for re-location under the scheme.

There was suspicion that this could be an attempt by ineligible persons to get a house under the project.

The Corporation’s workers removed two huts in the morning, apart from the roofs of 10 others, the official said. But, the slum-dwellers tried to stage a road blockade in protest against the drive. Later, they protested against the removal of the structures.

The Corporation official said that subsequently the slum-dwellers promised not to put up or allow any new huts to come up.

A police vigil was also being maintained to prevent any further encroachment. The action taken on Saturday would deter further encroachment, the official felt.

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 November 2009 03:58
 

High court order halts corporation eviction drive near Victoria Hall

Saturday, 07 November 2009 08:25 administrator
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The Times of India 07.11.2009

High court order halts corporation eviction drive near Victoria Hall

TNN 7 November 2009, 12:49am IST

CHENNAI: Chennai Corporation on Friday removed encroachments on the Victoria Public Hall premises ahead of the heritage building's restoration. However, the exercise had to be stopped in the evening after traders got a status quo order from the Madras high court.

Justice Prabha Sridevan and Justice KK Sasidaran directed the advocate commissioner to file a report on the status of the property as on Friday, following the submission made by the senior counsel appearing for shop owners that valuables still remain in the shop and they were forcibly evicted. The case was adjourned for Monday.

The high court had on Wednesday permitted the local body to evict 32 shops from the premises. Traders approached the court, after the corporation's land and estate department served them notices in August, giving them seven days to move out. It will help restoration of the heritage structure under the centre's flagship urban infrastructure upgradation programme, JNNURM, at a cost of Rs 3.23 crore.

About 150 police personnel, led by deputy of police (Kilpauk) AT Duraikumar provided security, while corporation officials came with an army of staff, besides ten bull dozers, loaders and lorries. The personnel had a tough time chasing away onlookers, some of who tried to take away the mangled remains.

The VP Hall was designed by Robert Fellows Chisholm and built between 1888 and 1890. The civic agency leased out 3.14 acres of land (approx 57 grounds) to the VP Hall Trust Board in the People's Park for 99 years from April 1, 1886. Even as the the lease of the VP Hall Trust Board expired in 1985, the lease was not renewed in favour of the board. Also, being a lessee, the trust board has no power to sub-let it to a third party (traders).

"That is why we directed SIAA and traders to vacate the premises at once," officials said. Though South Indian Athletic Association (SIAA) was occupying the premises for more than three decades, conducting its sporting and clubbing activities, traders had spread out on five grounds of the sprawling premises without official sanction.
 
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