Inmates of building don't vacate despite corporation demolition notice
Chennai: “This building bearing door no 17, O S building at EK Guru Street in Periamet is in a dangerous and dilapidated condition. It is posing danger to the occupier and the public. Neither the owner nor the occupier has any right to use the premises in any manner whatsoever. Violation of this will be viewed seriously and liable for criminal prosecution,” warns a statutory notice put up by Chennai corporation on May 23. It’s almost a month and there are no signs of people vacating the unsafe building.
When Deccan Chronicle visited the four-storey building, there were also two state run ration shops functioning in the building in violation to the corporation notice. Pools of filth, pendent electric wires seem both perilous and hazardous inside the building were common sight. The building on the verge of falling down is also popular among the local residents as two-ration shops function in a filthy unhygienic manner.
“The building suffers ownership and maintenance problems but now poses threat to neighbours and public. There is another ration shop in adjacent Chengalvarayan street having similar problems,” rued a civic activist Aarani Srinivasan.
Legal heirs registered a complaint with Chennai corporation requesting them to demolish the building. As per their request, the civic body also gave nod to demolish the building. “I already apprised the corporation to demolish the building, which is unsafe and perilous for the occupants and visitors,” Ravichandran, MLA Egmore said.
“After we raised the issue to the corporation to demolish the building, ration shops workers denied vacating the place saying that they don’t have any alternate places for relocation,” O.S. Abdullah, one of the property owners said.
“We also made a complaint against Chintamani ration shops on the ground floor that moved into our building without getting approval from the fire safety department and health department,” he said.
When contacted, authorities of Chintamani cooperative stores said they have taken up the issue but the superiors are not willing to give additional rents and in some cases building owners do not rent out their property for ration shops, they said.
