Three Sowcarpet buildings issued demolition notices still stand tall

Chennai: Three buildings in Sowcarpet issued demolition notices by the Chennai corporation in November 2014, on grounds that the structures threatened public safety, are still in place.

Highlighting the ineptness of the local body in executing orders issued in public interest, the buildings, located on Stringer Street, Anderson Street and Malaya Perumal Street, which were issued with the demolition orders on November 24, continue to house tenants and/or businesses.

No less than six officials had signed on the document confirming the demolition notice issued to owners, Sahid Jalal, Fathima Munnavara and Peer Anis Raja, and which had called for the fencing off or taking down of the building, as it was deemed by local body officials to be in a “ruinous state or dangerous to passers by or to the occupiers of neighbouring structures.”

DC could not reach the owners of these buildings while the tenants were not interested in talking to this correspondent. Activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy, who brought the issue to the notice of this newspaper, claimed that the owners wanted the corporation to demolish the building for them, but officials were being prevented by a few people indulging in ‘Katta Panchayat’.

When contacted, a local corporation official discounted the claim, but said that there is a problem between the owner and the tenants. “It is under litigation before the courts.”
When asked whether the corporation would approach the court for sealing of the buildings, an official replied, “There is very little we can do. Only if court issues directions will we be able to demolish it.”