Coimbatore Corporation razes down building on reserve site

Structure constructed by man who filed case against Corporation and Mayor

Officials of the Coimbatore Corporation and Local Planning Authority demolishing an unauthorised structure on a reserved site at Ramanathapuram, in the city on Saturday. Photo: M. Periasamy

Coimbatore Corporation on Saturday razed down a 1,000 sq.ft building that was under construction on its land in Nehru Nagar Angannan Layout. It also removed temporary structures and a cattle shed that were on the 28 cents.

P. Dhanapal, the man who had lodged a case against the Corporation and sought action against Mayor S.M. Velusamy, had claimed ownership of the land and constructed the building.

According to Town Planning Officer A. Varadharajan, Mr. Dhanapal was about to construct the roof when the Corporation razed down the building. Saturday’s action followed a District Munsif Court order of Friday that allowed the Coimbatore Corporation to take possession of the land. The court had also said that the land rightfully belonged to the civic body.

Mr. Varadharajan said that the Munsif Court’s order was on Mr. Dhanapal’s petition, wherein he had said that the land belonged to him as he had inherited the same from his father R.M. Palanisamy and prayed the court for restraining the Corporation from preventing him in constructing the building on the land.

The court had initially ordered status quo, which allowed Mr. Dhanapal to go ahead with the construction.

But in filing the petition, the petitioner had concealed the fact that in a similar petition Mr. Palanisamy had filed against the Corporation, the court had ruled in favour of the civic body, the Town Planning Officer said.

Mr. Dhanapal had filed another case in the Madras High Court alleging that the Coimbatore Corporation officials were threatening him for filing case against the civic body, that they were acting at the behest of the Mayor and that a criminal case be registered against the Mayor and officials.

Based on the court order, when the Coimbatore City Police began investigation, the Coimbatore Corporation presented all facts and that led to the dismissal of the case, he said and added that in a complaint the Corporation had preferred with the Anti-Land Grabbing Cell of the Coimbatore City Police, the latter had registered a case on Thursday.

Mr. Varadharajan said that the survey records and other documents clearly established Corporation’s ownership. After razing down the building, the Corporation was engaged in constructing a compound to secure the property, he said.