Remove encroachments around SDAT stadium: Madras HC directs Chennai Corporation

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Chennai corporation to remove encroachments and illegal constructions around the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu tennis stadium at Nungambakkam here in three months. The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, before which a PIL filed by S. A. Ahmed came up for hearing, ordered disciplinary action against officers who failed to stop the encroachments in the place.

The petitioner, Ahmed, sought removal of encroachments on Tank Bund Road, and the adjoining tennis stadium. He said that the encroachments affected pedestrian and vehicular movement on School Road, near the stadium, where national and tennis tournaments were being conducted regularly. More than 150 illegal structures had been erected on the road leading to the venue and a nearby land. A temple and semi-permanent structures came up on the pavement with an objective of retaining land near the place.

The Chennai corporation said that it made some endeavour in the recent past to provide alternative sites for encroachers identified for re-location. The remaining work of relocation would be completed in three months. It will be ensured that the pavement and streets were available for walking and for movement of vehicles. Recording this, the Bench said disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against those who permitted such constructions. It will form part of the report on the steps taken, along with the compliance report.” The court adjourned the case to October 29.