: Following the steps of Local Planning Authority (LPA)
in taking action against unauthorised construction of buildings in the
city, the Madurai Corporation on Wednesday swung into action and stopped
work in a multi-storey hospital building under construction at P.P.
Chavadi.

Instructed by the Corporation Commissioner,
R. Nanthagopal, the Chief Town Planning Officer, M. Rakkappan, ordered
stoppage of construction work and asked the labourers to leave before
locking the gates of the premises along Theni Main Road.

Mr.
Nanthagopal said that one doctor, Vijayaraj, was constructing the
hospital building with a basement, ground floor and three storeys
without proper building plan approval.

Stating that
those at the site claimed to have got permission for ground floor and
two storeys, the Commissioner said that they could produce any relevant
documents to the Corporation officials.

Construction
to the extent of over 28,000 square feet was going on when the officials
stopped work and seized construction materials worth Rs. 50,000.

Violation of rules

The construction had violated building rules and provisions of Development Control Regulation Act.

This is the first building the Corporation has taken action against for want of proper building plan approval.

The
Collector, Anshul Mishra, who is also the head of LPA, had warned of
taking stern action against buildings that violated established building
norms.

Based on his instructions, the officials of
LPA had stopped work in two multi-storey buildings, one in Tallakulam
and another in Alwarpuram.

Besides, the premises of a multi-storey apartment on Kothandaraman Road in Keeraithurai was sealed recently.

The Commissioner said that similar action would be taken against all buildings that violated the rules.

Enumeration under way

He added that enumeration of such building was under way.