CMDA plans new layout for 36 land encroached allottees

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

After 36 allottees’ dream of owning a home in government approved plots were shattered as the land was encroached by ex-landowners and alleged political musclemen in Marimalai Nagar in Katangalathur, Chennai Metropolitan development Authority is coming out with a plan to prepare an alternate layout in available vacant bulk lands for the allottees.

Sources told Express that the decision to prepare an alternate layout in available bulk lands was taken during a review on functioning of allotment division of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority last week.

Sources said 36 allottees, who got the allotment of plots in A and B blocks in Marimalai Nagar, have been paying the instalments regularly but they could not access the plots due to resistance from the ex-owners and encroachers.

Sources said the ex-owners and encroachers objected to the handing over of plots as most of the land acquired belong to SC/ST community and they had cited a government order issued in 1980s which prevent taking over of the lands belonging to SC/ST.

“The CMDA contends that the argument is not valid as the notification for acquisition was issued in 1970s and acquisition process was already over,” the source said.

Many attempts were made by CMDA for handing over the plots to the allottees but in vain. After the failure of repeated attempts made by CMDA, the matter was taken to the notice of government on November 2006. The government in turn called for the following particulars --- List of ex-landowners and area occupied or owned by ex-land owners. Sources said the value of the plots is currently worth several crores.

Sources said that during the meeting, the allotment superintendents were directed to update the allotment registers, vacant registers for all pending allotments and to reconcile the same with the approved layouts of all schemes. They were also directed to obtain a copy of the layout plan of all approved schemes and enter it in a permanent register for custody.

Sources said during the meeting the administrative officer was directed to transfer all staff working more than three years in a particular unit and maintain a watch register of the permanent registers to be maintained in various divisions, which will be reviewed periodically. Sources said this would ensure more transparency as now many departments are allegedly monopolized with officials working in the same department for ages.