The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 32 shops near Central station demolished

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Sunday, Nov 08, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

32 shops near Central station demolished

Staff Reporter

Photo: R.Ravindran

Demolition of shops near the Victoria Public Hall in progress on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Following a Madras High Court order, the Chennai Corporation on Friday demolished 32 shops located on land belonging to the Victoria Public Hall near the Chennai Central railway station. Several of the shop owners, however, claimed that the demolition was illegal as the authorities did not have proper eviction orders.

The shops employing hundreds of people have been there since 1974. On Friday morning, about 50 officials and 200 personnel of the civic body with several vehicles and equipment removed the shops. Haroon Sait, owner of a shop dealing in fancy items, said that they were not given adequate time to remove their goods. Arul Simon, a sweet stall owner, said the traders approached the Madras High Court immediately after the demolition. “A two-member committee assessed the damages and have recorded our version,” he added.

Officials of the civic body said they were ready to provide space to the shopkeepers in the Lilly Pond shopping complex. The demolition was part of the Corporation’s efforts to restore the heritage hall to its original state. The civic body had already constructed a compound wall on the southern side of the hall.

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