The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is set to commence a massive encroachment removal drive in various parts of the metropolitan area.
At a meeting held this week, the CMDA decided to remove encroachments in the satellite township of Maraimalai Nagar, central business district of George Town, Koyambedu market complex and Manali New Town with the assistance of the Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur district administrations.
The encroachments have emerged as an obstacle in the proposed development of areas near Maraimalai Nagar. Nearly four decades ago, the government acquired 1,914 acres of land for the development of the industrial suburb. Factories of several global automobile giants as well as offices of software companies are located in the area.
However, some 250 acres of land in the suburb have not yet been developed on account of encroachment. The layout for the development of these areas will be completed shortly. Currently, work on developing 30 non-polluting industrial plots and a commercial space covering 32 acres is underway at a cost of Rs. 14 crore. Each of the industrial plots ranges from 0.5 acre to 1.5 acre in area.
The encroachments are also a stumbling block for the development plan of the Tiruporur-Maraimalai Nagar corridor comprising 134 villages. This involves the preparation of base maps, collection of demographic and social data, a physical survey, preparation of existing land-use maps, analysis of infrastructure facilities, projection of population and future needs and working out spatial strategies. Encroachments will be removed with the support of the Kancheepuram district administration.
The Chennai Corporation and CMDA are working out the modalities for evicting wholesale flower traders in George Town. The CMDA has sought the help of the Chennai Corporation and the police to evict the traders from Badrian Street, as per court orders. As many as 128 flower traders were identified by the CMDA in the George Town area.
The Chennai Koyambedu Pushpa Vyabarigal and Commission Agent Sangam, represented by its president, had filed a case in 2004 to stop the wholesale trade in areas other than Koyambedu in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
A number of encroachments in the Koyambedu Market complex are also bothering the over one lakh visitors in the 300-acre area. These encroachments will be removed with the assistance of Chennai Corporation. Encroachments in Manali New Town will be removed with assistance from Tiruvallur District administration.
