CHENNAI: The warehouse whose compound wall collapsed and killed 11 migrants in the suburbs near Redhills was a unauthorized structure, according to Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
Speaking to City Express, a CMDA official said, “The structure is illegal as it has been built in the catchment area of the Red Hills lake. This area was marked as aquifer recharge area and commercial structures are not permissible in the area.”
Interestingly, the warehouse is not the lone structure that has violated the development regulations. There are numerous other structures that have sprung up and most of them are godowns being built to do business with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Also, CMDA has issued 46 notices till date to illegal structures that have sprung up in the catchment area.
“We aren’t very sure that this is one of the unauthorised structure that was actually issued notice,” the official added.
Interestingly, district administration officials said that action would be taken against the illegal structures once the notice period ends.
“If CMDA initiates further action, district administration will help them in removing the illegal structures from the catchment,” a Tiruvallur district official declared.