The Hindu 02.09.2010
Corporation to collect details of OSR lands
In Discussion: The council meeting of the Chennai Corporation in progress on Tuesday.
CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation will collect details about 98 OSR (Open Space Reservation) lands in various localities this week. The total area is estimated to be around 700 grounds.
The Corporation would explore the possibility of developing parks and playgrounds on the lands. It would also consider constructing underground parking lots.
This was announced by Mayor M. Subramanian at the council meeting of the Corporation here on Tuesday.
“The Corporation will take appropriate action for taking over the OSR lands worth more than Rs.1,500 crore,” he added.
Responding to suggestions from some of the councillors for utilisation of the OSR lands for other purposes, Mr. Subramanian said it was legally not possible to construct any other structure for other use on the lands. Only parks are permitted to be developed at the ground level, he added.
Various councillors stressed the need for takeover of OSR lands by the Corporation in various parts of the city.
Opposition leader Saidai P. Ravi said the problems of traffic congestion and lack of parking space would be solved by construction of underground parking facilities. The need for keeping the OSR spaces ‘open' as per the statutory requirements would also be addressed by developing the park above the underground parking space, he said.
