Chennai: Rs 25 crore encroached lands recovered

Chennai: In the past one week, the corporation has recovered lands to an estimate of Rs 25 crore, including four grounds of land in posh Shenoy Nagar encroached by a private school. Another 6,000-square foot area encroached by a trader in Pulla Reddy avenue was also recovered last week by the corporation officials.

Following the successful recovery of land by the Anna Nagar zonal officials, the civic body is also planning to repeat the similar encroachment drive in another area coming within the old Chennai corporation limits.

The corporation is also fighting a few litigations pending before the Madras high court and there are few stretches of lands that had to be acquired under the open space reserve notification of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Ripon Building sources said.  

However, corporation insiders also admitted that the land grabbing and the encroachment in extended areas of Chennai continue to be unchecked.

The recently annexed areas coming on East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road are still awaiting a detailed encroachment enumeration. Similarly, there are large tracts of lands encroached in Madhavaram, Manali and Thiruvottriyur, sources said.