The Times of India 21.09.2010
More public space to be reclaimed
CHENNAI: Continuing with its drive to claim open space reservation lands being held by private property developers, the Chennai Corporation will take over 40 properties spread over 200 grounds in Mylapore and Kodambakkam zones on Friday.
As per the development control rules (DCR), a developer who embarks on a housing project in an area of 3,000 sq mt need not earmark open space reservation land. However, if a plot is b igger than 3,000 sq mts and up to 10,000 sq mts, 10% of the developing area has to be reserved as open space for public use. He has to hand over gift deeds to the Chennai Corporation through CMDA for further maintenance - public park or playground.
"Pieces of land would be taken from Velachery Main Road, Mylapore, MRC Nagar near Greenways Road, Saligramam and Virugambakkam, all at one go," a senior corporation official told TOI. They have been under the possession of private land owners for five to ten years, as the regulatory bodies turned a blind eye to the violations. The corporation's decision to take over OSR land was taken in the wake of a field survey by the vigilance department with help from CMDA and zonal offices.
As many as 100 pieces of OSR land have been identified in various parts of the city. As of now, a majority of these are located in zones like Mylapore (36), Kodambakkam (19), Kilpauk (14) and Saidapet (13). The personnel have identified 701 grounds in areas like Kodungaiyur, Ayanavaram, Villivakkam, Mc Nicholas Road in Chetpet, Nelson Manickam Road, Chinmaya Nagar in Virugambakkam, Avvai Shanmugham Salai, Haddows Road in Nungambakkam, Vadapalani, Kottur Gardens and Sardar Patel Road in Adyar.
An official closely associated with the project claimed that land reserved for open space are extensively used for private access and parks developed and maintained by owners are out of bounds for the public. On an OSR land on Velachery-Tambaram Road, the property owner has built a swimming pool and a temple. In some places, the land is used for installing TNEB transformers.
As per the development control rules (DCR), a developer who embarks on a housing project in an area of 3,000 sq mt need not earmark open space reservation land. However, if a plot is b igger than 3,000 sq mts and up to 10,000 sq mts, 10% of the developing area has to be reserved as open space for public use. He has to hand over gift deeds to the Chennai Corporation through CMDA for further maintenance - public park or playground.
"Pieces of land would be taken from Velachery Main Road, Mylapore, MRC Nagar near Greenways Road, Saligramam and Virugambakkam, all at one go," a senior corporation official told TOI. They have been under the possession of private land owners for five to ten years, as the regulatory bodies turned a blind eye to the violations. The corporation's decision to take over OSR land was taken in the wake of a field survey by the vigilance department with help from CMDA and zonal offices.
As many as 100 pieces of OSR land have been identified in various parts of the city. As of now, a majority of these are located in zones like Mylapore (36), Kodambakkam (19), Kilpauk (14) and Saidapet (13). The personnel have identified 701 grounds in areas like Kodungaiyur, Ayanavaram, Villivakkam, Mc Nicholas Road in Chetpet, Nelson Manickam Road, Chinmaya Nagar in Virugambakkam, Avvai Shanmugham Salai, Haddows Road in Nungambakkam, Vadapalani, Kottur Gardens and Sardar Patel Road in Adyar.
An official closely associated with the project claimed that land reserved for open space are extensively used for private access and parks developed and maintained by owners are out of bounds for the public. On an OSR land on Velachery-Tambaram Road, the property owner has built a swimming pool and a temple. In some places, the land is used for installing TNEB transformers.
