Unable to hand over housing plots it allotted 10 years ago to 36 persons in Maraimalai Nagar, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is now considering a new layout for the beneficiaries.
The CMDA is being forced to do this as the originally-allotted plots were encroached upon by ex-landowners and those having political clout.
Sources told Express that the decision to prepare an alternative layout in available bulk lands was taken during a review meeting on the functioning of allotment division of the CMDA last week.
Sources said 36 beneficiaries, who got the allotment of plots in A and B blocks in Marimalai Nagar in 2002, have been paying the instalments regularly but they could not access the plots due to resistance from the ex-owners as well as some encroachers.
Sources said the ex-owners and encroachers objected to the handing over of plots as most of the land acquired belonged to SC/ST community and they had cited a government order issued in 1980s which prevent taking over of the lands belonging to SC/ST.
“The CMDA contends that the argument is not valid as the notification for acquisition was issued way back in 1970s,” the source said.
After repeated attempts made by the CMDA to hand over the plots to the allottees failed, the matter was taken to the notice of government on November 2006.
The government in turn called for the list of ex-landowners and area occupied or owned by ex-land owners. Sources said the value of the plots is estimated to be worth several crores.
Sources said that during the meeting, the allotment superintendents were directed to update the allotment registers and to reconcile the same with the approved layouts of all schemes.
They were also directed to obtain a copy of the layout plan of all approved schemes and enter it in a permanent register for custody.
Sources said, during the meeting, the administrative officer was directed to transfer all staff working more than three years in a particular unit. Sources added this will ensure more transparency as many departments are allegedly monopolized with officials working there for several years.