The Chennai Corporation on Friday took over 22 grounds of land belonging to it from private parties in Vadapalani. Civic body staff measured the area and placed a board saying that the plot belongs to the Corporation.
Mayor M. Subramanian, along with Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, inspected the site and said the plot was meant to be marked as Open Space Reservation (OSR) land under the Development Control Rules.
Commercial establishments are supposed to pay 10 per cent of the land cost to the civic body if the built up area is between 3,000 sq metre and 10,000 sq metre. Wherever the area is above 10,000 sq metre, 10 per cent of the land has to be marked as OSR.
The plot of land in Vadapalani is sandwiched between a star hotel and a building that is under construction. The access to the land is through Amman Koil Street.
Along with the nine grounds that had already been taken over in the area, the Corporation proposes to form a new park on the 31 grounds. The 22 grounds alone are said to be valued at Rs.70 crore. Those now utilising the space have been asked to remove machinery and other material within a week, after which the process of developing the park would begin, Mr. Subramanian said.
