CHENNAI: A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court for a direction to the Corporation of Greater Chennai to remove all encroachments on Kodambakkam High Road.
The PIL from S Parthiban of Saidapet came up for a hearing last week before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar who ordered notice returnable by March 2.
According to advocate A Ilaya Perumal, two accidents killing two persons occurred because of the encroachments in certain places. Hence, the present PIL to clear the entire Kodambakkam High Road from encroachments.
Perumal contends that the road was originally 35 feet wide. Now it has been reduced to 22 feet due to encroachments.
Despite the issuance of a legal notice dated November 2014, the Corporation authorities did not take any steps to widen the road.
After several representations that proved futile, Parthiban moved the Madras High Court in November 2015 directing the authorities concerned to dispose of the representations in accordance with the law.
With still no progress, Parthiban filed a contempt petition.
Following the petition, the High Court on August 8, 2016, imposed a fine of `2,000 on the Regional Joint Commissioner, who promptly paid the amount to the petitioner on August 22.
Following this, the authorities selectively removed encroachments at certain places.
Congested places like Sai Baba Street to Amma canteen and the area around Corporation Boys School were left out.