In its continuing drive against unauthorised constructions across the city, the Coimbatore Corporation demolished on Thursday two buildings that had come up on what was once a canal but later turned into a road.
The special demolition squad of the civic body razed a 1,000 sq ft godown and a 600 sq ft building, one part of which was meant to be a godown and the other a residence. Using hollow blocks, these buildings had been built on an area that was still classified in Revenue Department records as a canal. But, over a period of time, it was used as a pathway between two residential colonies.
Quoting people in the locality, an official in the squad said they had apparently turned the canal into a road because it was not taking water into any tank. The site, however, was located near the Selva Chinthamani tank, one of the water bodies that would be rejuvenated under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
One of the buildings demolished on Thursday had been constructed right in the middle of this path. Its removal restored the link between Kurinji Garden and Thirunagar.
The official said notices had been served on the owners of the buildings, asking them to remove the structures in a week. The Corporation and the Revenue Department removed the structures as the owners did not respond to the notices.
The Corporation and the Revenue Department were identifying unauthorised constructions on Government lands and water bodies and removing them. A similar eviction was done on 15 cents a couple of days ago along a water body near A.K.S. Nagar off Thadagam Road, he said.
