C Shivakumar
Chennai:
A RTI activist’s building was sealed by Chennai Corporation officials
without any prior notice on July 26, 2014 after his petitions exposed
the authorities turning blind eye to five illegal multi-storied
buildings in Sowcarpet.
J Prasamal, who also owns the single-floor commercial building, says
the action was taken by Corporation officials after they were issued
charge memo by then executive engineer Sundaresan on July 17 based on
the complaint by Parasmal for failing to initiate action against the
five multi-storied buildings.
The charge memo was issued against assistant executive engineer
Sundarrajan and Area engineer Lawrence for failing to act on the
buildings. The five illegal buildings are located in Thatha Muthiappan
Street, Audiappa Naicken Street, Narayana Mudalali Street, Mint Street
and Varadha Muthiappan Street.
The five illegal buildings are six-storied buildings and one of them
was sealed by Chennai Corporation. As per norms, Chennai Corporation
has powers to approve building with two floors only. But in this case
all these buildings were six-storeyed buildings. The additional floors
were built without any clearance from Chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority, which is the only authority to grant permission for multi-storeyed buildings.
Interestingly, after Parasmal raised the issue, one of the
building located in Thatha Muthiappan Street.
But what surprised him was that his single-storied building was sealed by the
authorities without giving any notice.
When he sought why prior notice was not issued to him, (as stated in
the flex on his building), the officials ignored him. “Regional deputy
commissioner Zone V Lakshmy refused to meet me three times when I
demanded the notice,” he said.
Interestingly, Parasmal’s building had a minor deviation as he had
built a mezzanine floor. A notice was issued on 2008 and subsequently
on February 11, 2012. Following the notice on 2012, Parasmal sent in
his reply on July 16, 2013, that his building was inspected by then
executive engineer K Muniappan on February 21, 2012. In the letter the
official stated there is no construction activity at present.
Interestingly, Chennai Corporation officials did not reply to his
letter for the last one year. Then all of a sudden on July 26, 2014
without issuing a notice to him or a de-occupation notice issued to
his tenant, Arvind of Arvind Impex, the building was sealed.
“It is high-handedness of Chennai Corporation officials who have been
mute spectator to illegal buildings mushrooming in Sowcarpet,” he
said.
Interestingly, when he sought the notice through RTI, Chennai
Corporation officials affixed a note by Regional Deputy Commissioner
(North) which vaguely highlights a complaint by one Jayantilal and a
petition by Traffic Ramasamy against Sowcarpet buildings. The answer
to the RTI query never states that a notice was issued to Parasmal.
When Express contacted Chennai Corporation’s official Lawrence, he
said Chennai Corporation had given the notice but Parasmal did not
receive it. Parasamal said it is total lie. “Why would I file RTIs and
wait at regional deputy commissioner’s office seeking the notice which
till now they evaded,” he said.
Chennai:
A RTI activist’s building was sealed by Chennai Corporation officials
without any prior notice on July 26, 2014 after his petitions exposed
the authorities turning blind eye to five illegal multi-storied
buildings in Sowcarpet.
J Prasamal, who also owns the single-floor commercial building, says
the action was taken by Corporation officials after they were issued
charge memo by then executive engineer Sundaresan on July 17 based on
the complaint by Parasmal for failing to initiate action against the
five multi-storied buildings.
The charge memo was issued against assistant executive engineer
Sundarrajan and Area engineer Lawrence for failing to act on the
buildings. The five illegal buildings are located in Thatha Muthiappan
Street, Audiappa Naicken Street, Narayana Mudalali Street, Mint Street
and Varadha Muthiappan Street.
The five illegal buildings are six-storied buildings and one of them
was sealed by Chennai Corporation. As per norms, Chennai Corporation
has powers to approve building with two floors only. But in this case
all these buildings were six-storeyed buildings. The additional floors
were built without any clearance from Chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority, which is the only authority to grant permission for multi-storeyed buildings.
Interestingly, after Parasmal raised the issue, one of the
building located in Thatha Muthiappan Street.
But what surprised him was that his single-storied building was sealed by the
authorities without giving any notice.
When he sought why prior notice was not issued to him, (as stated in
the flex on his building), the officials ignored him. “Regional deputy
commissioner Zone V Lakshmy refused to meet me three times when I
demanded the notice,” he said.
Interestingly, Parasmal’s building had a minor deviation as he had
built a mezzanine floor. A notice was issued on 2008 and subsequently
on February 11, 2012. Following the notice on 2012, Parasmal sent in
his reply on July 16, 2013, that his building was inspected by then
executive engineer K Muniappan on February 21, 2012. In the letter the
official stated there is no construction activity at present.
Interestingly, Chennai Corporation officials did not reply to his
letter for the last one year. Then all of a sudden on July 26, 2014
without issuing a notice to him or a de-occupation notice issued to
his tenant, Arvind of Arvind Impex, the building was sealed.
“It is high-handedness of Chennai Corporation officials who have been
mute spectator to illegal buildings mushrooming in Sowcarpet,” he
said.
Interestingly, when he sought the notice through RTI, Chennai
Corporation officials affixed a note by Regional Deputy Commissioner
(North) which vaguely highlights a complaint by one Jayantilal and a
petition by Traffic Ramasamy against Sowcarpet buildings. The answer
to the RTI query never states that a notice was issued to Parasmal.
When Express contacted Chennai Corporation’s official Lawrence, he
said Chennai Corporation had given the notice but Parasmal did not
receive it. Parasamal said it is total lie. “Why would I file RTIs and
wait at regional deputy commissioner’s office seeking the notice which
till now they evaded,” he said.
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