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Civic body seals building owned by Karunanidhi's granddaughter

Tuesday, 11 June 2013 12:03 administrator
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The Times of India               11.06.2013

Civic body seals building owned by Karunanidhi's granddaughter

COIMBATORE: City corporation officials out on a lock and seal drive against a commercial building housing a two-wheeler showroom jointly owned by the granddaughter of former chief minister M Karunanidhi found themselves in a fix on Monday morning. The officials met with stiff resistance from the building owners, family members and their supporters who refused to adhere to the corporation's version that the building was constructed without obtaining proper permission. They accused the corporation officials of specifically targeting them but finally obliged and sidestepped for the authorities to lock and seal the building after about two hours of feverish negotiations and arrival of additional policemen to the spot.

"The building was constructed without obtaining building license from the corporation and had some deviations. The corporation has followed the proper legal channel to seal the building," said G Latha, commissioner, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation.

According to A Varadharajan, town planning officer of the corporation, the building jointly registered under the name of Poonguzhali , granddaughter of M Karunanidhi from his son Tamilarasu and P Vishwanathan, was erected without leaving proper set back in the front portion. The building was completed and being used as a two-wheeler showroom under the name Vasanthi Hero show room with both sales and service options to customers. The firm is also registered under joint ownership of Poonguzhali and her mother-in-law Vasanthi. The town planning officials claimed that the total area of the building is about 30,000 square feet, which has been constructed in ground plus three floors design with two basement levels.

Expectedly, the building owners disagreed with the civic officials. "We are being targeted as the corporation officials did not have any proper documents with them when they came to lock and seal our building. They served a notice to us on Friday asking us to vacate in 24 hours. It is unfair as we could not have responded to the notice during the weekend," said M P Premanand, Poonghuzhali's husband, told TOI.

Premanand alleged that corporation officials were acting on the instruction of some 'higher powers' against them. He also claimed that the matter was pending before the high court and district court and the corporation was not authorised to seal the building as the matter is pending before the courts. "We will explore more legal options now but as of now we are yet to decide our next move," Premanand added.

However, corporation officials claimed that they referred the matter for legal opinion from the advocate general's office and obtained a green signal to go ahead for them to seal the building.

According to officials, the planning permission was given from LPA in 2010 and the building construction was completed by the end of 2011. The civic body served notices on the building owners in 2012, but they sought legal reprieve from the high court and also the district munsif court.

One of the legal aides of the building owners present at the spot claimed that they will approach the court on Tuesday to override the municipal corporation decision.

As many as 40 people are employed at the showroom.

 

Illegal drawal of water: 17 motors seized

Tuesday, 11 June 2013 09:23 administrator
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The New Indian Express               11.06.2013

Illegal drawal of water: 17 motors seized

More than 200 of the total 300 houses in Palla Idaiyampattu area in Virupatchipuram had fixed electric motors to the pipelines to draw water illegally. | EPS
More than 200 of the total 300 houses in Palla Idaiyampattu area in Virupatchipuram had fixed electric motors to the pipelines to draw water illegally. | EPS

As many as 17 electric motors used for stealing water were seized by civic officials over the past weekend.

An official team attached to Zone 3 of the Vellore Corporation, led by junior engineer Palani and tap inspector Nizar, conducted a surprise check on houses in Sankaranpalayam and Salavanpet. In Salavanpet, eight electric motors were seized while nine motors were seized in Sankaranpalayam area.

Councillor of Ward 44, G Shanmugham, said his demand for a raid in his area had not been met.

He said more than 200 of the total 300 houses in Palla Idaiyampattu area in Virupatchipuram had fixed electric motors to the pipelines to draw water illegally.

 

UGD project: Corporation takes steps to cancel packages

Tuesday, 11 June 2013 05:09 administrator
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The Hindu                11.06.2013

UGD project: Corporation takes steps to cancel packages

The slow progress in underground drainage project in Erode, has put lot of vehicle users into hardships.- PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN
The slow progress in underground drainage project in Erode, has put lot of vehicle users into hardships.- PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN
 
Notice served to contractors; move follows slow progress of works.

The Erode Corporation has initiated efforts to cancel two packages coming under its ambitious underground drainage (UGD) project and served notices to the contractors who bagged them.

The move follows slow progress in the Package I and II, which were awarded a long time ago.

Corporation sources said the Package I was awarded in January 2010 to lay pipelines to a length of 201 km. The work should have been completed by January this year. But the contractor who bagged the Package I could lay pipelines only to a length of 85 km in three years, which was less than 50 per cent of the total work.

In the Package II, the civic body had planned to lay pipelines to a length of about 110 km. The work order for the package was issued in May 2012. But the contractor, who bagged the work, had completed laying pipelines to a length of just 2.5 km.

The slow progress in the laying of pipelines had left the residents in the town to face difficulties while travelling.

Trenches were dug up damaging the road infrastructure and many of them were left open. In a few parts of the town, the trenches were not closed properly after laying the pipelines.

People and elected representatives took up the issue with the senior officials urging them to instruct the contractors to carry out the works quickly.

“We discussed the issue with the contractors on a number of occasions and urged them to speed up the works. But, there was little progress in the two packages despite several requests,” a senior official said.

Councillors had raised the issue a number of times urging the civic body to complete the project quickly.

Mayor R. Mallika Paramasivam admitted that the progress of UGD works was not satisfactory and said steps were being taken up to cancel the contracts and call for tenders to re-allot the works. “We have to cancel the contracts because the progress is very slow. Officials from the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration had already reviewed the situation and we will soon get the approval to go for a re-tender,” she told The Hindu .

 
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