Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093057650100.htm

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Demolition of illegal construction begins

Staff Reporter

Zone 2 has four more unauthorised constructions to be demolished

— Photo: R. Ragu

CURBING VIOLATIONS: The unauthorised building on Mint Street being demolished on Monday.

Chennai: The Chennai Corporation on Monday started the demolition of an unauthorised construction on Mint Street.

The local body had given permission for only ground floor plus one storey, but four storeys were added unauthorisedly. The action follows a survey made by the Corporation and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) that identified 30 buildings for demolition. Seventeen of the buildings are in violation of the Corporation’s planning permission and the rest are being reviewed by the CMDA.

The survey examined only buildings in prominent places and whose construction started after July 27, 2007.

The building on Mint Street had recently been completed but was not put into use fully. Corporation officials said a couple of shops functioned from the ground floor.

Although the building looked like it had only four storeys, a mezzanine floor had also been constructed.

The building falls in Zone 2 (Basin Bridge) of the Corporation. The zone has four more unauthorised constructions that are to be demolished.

The owner of one of these buildings has obtained a court stay, but action would be taken on the three other buildings, said zonal officials.