CHENNAI: The fate of a polytechnic college with 500 students, built on the Red Hills water catchment area without proper planning approval, is hanging in the balance as the State government rejected its appeal for regularisation and the withdrawal of the lock-and-seal notice issued by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
In its order dated October 31, the State government rejected St Michael’s Polytechnic College’s appeal, which could mean closure of the institution in its present campus. It is learnt that the institution did not obtain planning permission from the competent planning authority and officials say there is little chance that the institution will be allowed to continue in the Red Hills catchment area.
The institute, which started functioning in 1992 after obtaining a no-objection-certificate from the State government in 1984, feels it is being victimised by the CMDA.
“When the entire Red Hills Catchment area is being developed and many of the buildings are regularised, then why are we being victimised. It would affect the career of 500 students,” says principal, Vajravelu.
Vajravelu argued that the government has allowed SIDCO estate in the Red Hills Catchment area.
“They cannot discriminate against the institution by disallowing land re-classification for institutional purposes. In close vicinity there are land-use classification of mixed residential as well as primary residential land-use zones,” he said. He added the institution has obtained planning permission from Vellanur Panchayat and property taxes have been paid. “We are willing to vacate the land for the building of the Outer Ring Road but then the government should compensate us,” he said.
Factfile
1. Twenty-seven villages are covered along the Red Hills catchment area and development is prohibited.
2. A total of 70 per cent of the villages have been developed along the catchment areas. .
3. The State government earlier sought clarification from the Master Plan Unit of CMDA over the status of existing industries and educational institutions prior to the preparation of first and second master plans
4. Industrial sites of Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) layout in Vellanur village in Avadi is coming up under the catchment area of Red Hills.