Authorities to take the assistance of Google Maps
Authorities to take the assistance of Google Maps for combating the menace of illegal construction in the Nilgiris district, the Madras high court asked the authorities to demolish illegal buildings where demolition proceedings are pending, within
Chennai: While directing the authorities to take the assistance of Google Maps for combating the menace of illegal construction in the Nilgiris district, the Madras high court asked the authorities to demolish illegal buildings where demolition proceedings are pending, within two months.
Disposing of petitions filed by Elephant G. Rajendran, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan directed the authorities to prepare a Google map to resolve the problem of unauthorised construction. This could identify the existing position of construction, so that no one can claim in future that such construction existed before that date. This plan would be prepared within a month.
In the original petitions filed seven years ago, the petitioner sought action against unauthorised construction in the garden city of Ooty and a direction to demolish such illegal buildings in Ooty, Gudalur, Kotagiri and Coonoor taluks. In April 2010, the court directed disconnection of water and electricity connections.
However, the aggrieved parties approached the Supreme Court and obtained relief. Thus, unauthorised constructions continued unabated. “It is not as if the authorities are devoid of statutory powers to take action, but some of them appear to have lack of will and as a result, the number of unauthorised constructions has grown and the task of taking remedial action has become huge,” the bench said.
As of the cut-off date of 2007, out of 1,337 constructions, 69 were approved and 70 were demolished, while 20 cases are pending in the court. Review petitions relating to 945 buildings were pending before the state government and action pending against 225 buildings. Hence, we call upon the state to clear the petitions regarding 945 buildings in a phased manner, the bench said.
The bench directed the government to allot Rs 1.35 crore to carry out the demolition of 76 buildings. The corporation will ensure that within two months, the demolition processes are completed against the properties where all formalities are complete and only demolition action is pending.
The bench also directed the commissioner of the municipality, secretary, municipal administration and water supply department, to file status reports every two months.
Once the status report is filed, the court may appoint an independent committee to verify the action taken. The matter would be listed before the court every two months.
( Source : dc )
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