CHENNAI: Residents of a five-floor commercial-cum-residential building in Armenian Street here were in for a shock on Monday morning when officials of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) sealed it.
The 30-year-old building, which was leased out to more than half a dozen shops, was sealed as CMDA deemed it unauthorised construction.
Hussain Bakir, a resident on the fourth floor and grandson of the owner, said they least expected the building to be sealed suddenly. “We had just recovered from the rains and there was still time,” he said. CMDA stated that the commercial portions of the unauthorised construction of ground floor plus mezzanine floor plus four floors and fifth (part were sealed following the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.
“As the construction was made (without permission), notices calling for approved plan and locking and sealing were served on April, 9, 2015 and September 25 respectively,” CMDA said. The de-occupation notice was served on December 18 ,at 7.30 am, the CMDA added.