CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has stated that its action of issuing notices to 27 major unauthorised and deviated constructions in the city is also to caution the public against transacting with the properties concerned.

An official release from the CMDA said the authority had been issuing caution notices to all concerned builders, buyers, occupiers and the general public. Recently, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court had directed the CMDA to take action against unauthorised constructions or deviations done after February 28, 1999. In compliance with the orders, the authority said it was initiating action against major cases of deviated and unauthorised structures.

On October 31, it issued notices under the Town and Country Planning Act against 27 buildings, including Saravana Stores and GRT Thangamaligai in T. Nagar and other areas, asking them to pull down the unauthorised portions. Otherwise, the authority said, it would take action for demolition as per law.

The release added that it was now issuing a cautionary to reiterate to building owners and developers about the action initiated.

The other objective was to caution the public not to take interest in the properties, as action was initiated against them.

Those acquiring interest in the said development may treat this release as a notice served on them, the release added.

Meanwhile, activists who had originally gone to court and obtained the recent order, say that the CMDA and the Government were yet to convene or take the advice of the empowered Monitoring Committee, which the Division Bench's order had directed to be constituted.

The Division Bench had constituted the Monitoring Committee to oversee multi-storeyed buildings constructed in violation of plan permission, coastal regulatory zone provisions and other development control rules.

The Committee, which shall have access to the CMDA and Chennai Corporation files pertaining to construction activities, should be consulted by the Government in case of any changes in the master plan or the development control rules.

Demolition without notice

The judges held that notices need not be issued for demolishing structures encroaching upon public places and streets, and added that water and sewerage connections given to such facilities must be disconnected `forthwith'. The Committee shall comprise CMDA Vice-Chairman; Chennai Corporation Commissioner; Chennai Police Commissioner; Managing Director of Metrowater; Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board; Director of Fire Services; and Chennai District Collector, besides five persons, including three retired bureaucrats.

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