Date:15/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071559690700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Officials directed to be present in court on Friday

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday directed eight officials, including the Home Secretary and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) Member-Secretary, to be present in the court on July 18 in connection with a writ petition seeking a direction to the authorities to shift iron and steel market godowns and shops from George Town to Sathangadu.

A Division Bench of Justices P.K. Misra and M. Sathyanarayanan passed the order on the petition filed by K.R. Ramaswamy alias Traffic Ramaswamy of Virugambakkam. Mr. Ramaswamy said that in 1997, the CMDA had proposed to shift all iron and steel shops and godowns from the city, including George Town. An area was allotted at Sathangadu on the outskirts. This was because several families were residing and schools functioning in George Town. An order, passed in 1999, declared Sathangadu an iron and steel market area. But, it was not enforced. In its status report filed on Monday , the CMDA said it developed the iron and steel market at Sathangadu, which was accessible from the Ennore Expressway, and provided with railway siding. At a meeting on April 24, the CMDA Chairman requested the traders to shift their activities to Sathangadu, but they sought two years. However, the grace period was restricted to one year.