The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Show-cause letter to DMK Trust chairman

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Show-cause letter to DMK Trust chairman

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, JUNE 29. The Housing Secretary today sent a letter to the chairman of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Trust, asking why action should not be taken against it for not setting aside the mandated open space reservation (OSR) area at Anna Arivalayam, party headquarters here.

The Development Control Rules for the city mandate that constructions on land bigger than 10,000 square metres be taken up after setting apart 10 per cent of the site for open space.

The area must be handed over to the local body or development authority by a gift deed.

The DMK headquarters is spread over about 18,000 square metres.

The letter said the OSR area should have been maintained as a park and set apart for the use of the people, according to a Government Order. But this rule was violated. Hence the Trust should reply in seven days why the Government should not cancel the order.

The Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman and AIADMK leader, P. Vetrivel, brought the issue to light first in the council last year, alleging that the DMK had not set aside the OSR area at Anna Arivalayam, located on the arterial Anna Salai.

As soon as the issue was raised, the open space in front of the DMK headquarters, which was used as a parking lot, was converted into a makeshift park.

Mr. Vetrivel also wrote to the Corporation Commissioner on the issue. The Commissioner prepared a report on the status of the land and sent it to the Housing Secretary. Based on the report, the Secretary initiated action, officials said.

The Corporation council was slated to discuss on Thursday the move to take over a portion of the DMK headquarters.

A resolution was to have been passed to empower the Corporation to demarcate the area and use it as a park. But now the AIADMK leadership does not prefer a council meet as there are apprehensions that it could become noisy and violent.

When contacted, the DMK leaders said they were yet to receive the letter.

The letter was sent by registered post. The party president, M. Karunanidhi, has already said the issue will dealt with legally.

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