Elders' battle against land grabbers continues

Chennai: S. Mythili’s troubles started when a powerful liquor bar on started eyeing her land at Velachery here, and put up a board marking the land as his own. And, today, not only is she threatened regularly, the grabber is demanding Rs 10 lakhs from her just to let her get a survey of the land done.

There are many such elderly citizens across Chennai who are trying to find ways to get their lands back from grabbers.  At a meeting organised by Senior Citizens Group of Besantnagar (SCGOBN) on Friday, over 40 senior citizens, aged over 70, cited sad tales of their lone fight against land grabbers.

Also, a group of five lawyers came forward to listen to the grievances of the  elderly and offered free legal advice on issues with their lands. “Fifty years back, my late husband had bought this land. And now, at 75, I am fighting a lone battle,” said a hapless Mythili to DC.

Similarly, Rangaswamy of Porur, has nine cases filed against him because he was fighting against a local land grabber who has occupied his land since 2012.

There are others who are not only fighting private entities but also the improper protocol followed while acquiring land. “My land in Anakaputhur, was acquired by the government without any prior intimation, for a section of the National Highway to come up. I filed litigation in 2012, to get a proper value for the land they have taken. I have been offered only 9.91 lakhs for 2002 sq. feet and even after three years, I haven’t received the sum”,said N. Suyambhu, a former engineer with Chennai Port Trust.

“In Suyambhu’s case, land rate has been fixed by the government and it was utilised for building a public amenity. Since, the price offered is quite less, he can still file an appeal, and get a better price for the same. It will take time, but a solution would work out,” an advocate, R. Nagasundaram, told  DC.