COIMBATORE: The city corporation has been drawing flak from different quarters for its failure to remove an encroachment at VVC Layout near Brookefields even after a high court direction to do so. While a joint council of welfare associations has d sought the intervention of senior state government officials, an RTI activist has resumed his legal battle.
A high court division bench had on March 28 directed the corporation commissioner to retrieve a 40ft road worth around 10 crore at VVC Layout from the encroacher, who had built a building there and rented out a portion of it. Though the civic body made all preparations to remove the encroachment, the corporation commissioner put the move on hold citing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
RTI activist S P Thiyagarajan slammed the corporation commissioner for his lackadaisical attitude in retrieving the public land. “Two caveat petitions have been filed before the apex court against the encroacher – K Balasubramaniam – on April 5. No further affidavit could proceed without our knowledge. If the encroacher has moved the apex court seeking a stay on the high court order, we will defend it.”
Meanwhile, the joint committee of anti-corruption movement, Coimbatore unit, has sought the intervention of the directorate of municipal administration in the matter.
Its secretary N K Velu said the enforcement of model code of conduct wasn’t a reason for the corporation to bypass the high court order. “The inaction by the corporation commissioner raises questions about corruption. It is the civic body’s duty to protect the public land from being encroached and retrieve the encroached land. The last-moment withdrawal of the executive order for the eviction of encroachment is mysterious. We are hopeful of a positive move from the directorate of municipal administration.”
Denying the allegations, corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran said the executive orders were put on hold because of improper survey measurements. “Survey activities are in progress now. Once the survey orders and mapping are obtained, we will immediately initiate the eviction drive. This is to ensure that only the encroached land is retrieved.”
