The Hindu 24.10.2013
Encroachments removed on trekking path in Palani
Amid tight security, Sri Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple
authorities demolished shops operating on the trekking path leading to
the hill temple from the Sri Padhavinayagar shrine here on Wednesday.
Over
13 shops have conducted business on the trekking path for several
decades. With the original owners long since dead, their permits have
been used by others to run the shops.
The demolition
drive comes in the wake of a recent order from the Madurai bench of the
Madras High Court calling for the removal of encroachments in the temple
town.
In August 2013, 10 shop owners obtained a stay
order from the High Court restraining the authorities from evicting
them. Save for those, the remaining three shops were removed from the
trekking path on the orders of Municipal Commissioner K. Saravana Kumar,
who assumed office recently. Subsequently, officials also removed
encroachments on Sannadhi Street, Malai Adivaram, Railway Feeder Road,
Gandhi Veedhi and other key locations.
Several areas under the control of the temple administration remain under encroachment.