Corporation retrieves encroached land in Chetpet

Chennai Corporation workers demolishing encroached structures on a Corporation land at Chetpet on Monday. Chennai Corporation workers demolishing encroached structures on a Corporation land at Chetpet on Monday. Photo: Special Arrangement

The Chennai Corporation has retrieved nearly 2,550 sq. ft. land encroached on by a private establishment in Chetpet on Monday. The land is worth Rs.5 crore, a press release from the civic body said.

The civic body took over the land on Spurtank Road from Hotel Palimar.

The hotel authorities had constructed juice shop and a toilet block on the land.

The release said that a stay order obtained by the private establishment from Madras High Court against retrieval of the land was vacated recently. About 30 workers of the civic body were involved in demolishing the encroached structures.

In the past four years, the Chennai Corporation has taken over 1,442 grounds in various parts of the city, including Anna Nagar, Saidapet, Shenoy Nagar and Teynampet, the official release said.

Mayor M.Subramanian said the worth of the lands, including Open Space Reservation lands, was Rs.3,500 crore. A park would be developed on the land retrieved in Chetpet.

A zone-wise drive is being conducted to take over such lands. “We are planning to conduct a similar drive in Zone 5 (Kilpauk) next week,” he said.