Date:23/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/23/stories/2008012359500500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Encroachments removed

Staff Reporter

Officials take initiative in Nandivaram-Guduvancheri town panchayat

THE AXE FALLS: The compound wall of a house being razed down in Nandivaram-Guduvancheri town panchayat on Monday.

KANCHEEPURAM: Revenue and town panchayat officials removed encroachments from the land belonging to Nandivaram-Guduvancheri town panchayat on the Grand Southern Trunk Road on Monday.

Earthmovers were used to demolish the buildings and makeshift structures that have come up on the land belonging to the town panchayat.

The compound wall of a house was also razed down and 10 days’ time was given to a group of hut-dwellers, who had put up their dwelling units in a corner of the plot.

Around 65 cents of land was reclaimed, sources said and added that it had been proposed to construct a town panchayat office-cum-community hall at the reclaimed plot.

A majority of encroachers, hailing from the areas other than Nandivaram and Guduvancheri, were said to have `bought’ their plots from local people.

A shop-owner pleaded in vain with the officials to reconsider their decision since he had `bought’ the shop for Rs.35000 only recently, sources added.