The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, passing orders on a PIL filed by social activist K R 'Traffic' Ramaswamy on Thursday, said: "We are constrained to pass these orders, as it appears to us that municipal authorities are not taking their responsibility seriously and there is danger to the life and limb of residents on account of rampant unauthorised constructions which make buildings unsafe."
The PIL was filed after a fire accident at an unauthorised commercial complex on Narayana Mudali Street in Sowcarpet on July 23, which killed one person. Ramaswamy said despite complaints and! reminders, civic authorities were not taking any action for reasons best known to themselves.
Citing the bunch of photographs accompanying the PIL, the bench said even fire service engines would not be able to access the area during emergencies, and added, "We cannot let such mischance to continue."
The judges then laid down a roadmap to clean up George Town area. They asked the civic authorities to conduct a detailed inspection of each building in the area and prepare two lists - one consisting of buildings that can be allowed to remain after paying a fine for deviating from the approved plan and the second comprising structures which cannot be allowed to stand even on payment of compounding charges. The authorities shall then take a month's time to slap notice on owners of these buildings — asking them to pay the requisite charges in cases where violations are minor and face demolition in cases of serious violations.
Adjourning the matter to November ! for further hearing, the judges said a progress and status rep! ort should be filed before the date of next hearing.
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Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HC-ultimatum-to-raze-George-Towns-illegal-buildings/articleshow/39851048.cms
