HC foils take over bid of assembly land

The first move of the government to clear the land at Thattanchavady proposed for construction of a new integrated Assembly complex along with the Chief Secretariat met with a jolt on Monday.

A team of revenue and police personnel led by Pondicherry Planning Authority (PPA) on Monday went to remove unauthorised construction violating the Town and Country Planning Act on the land notified by the government for construction of Legislative Assembly complex .

However, the structures  could not be demolished on Monday, owing to the injunction orders issued by the Madras High Court against the demolition on Sunday for a period of two weeks.

PPA served a notice on August 8,2012 to Devaki Traders (near Muruga Theatre) who had undertaken the unauthorised constructions and thereafter sent a reminder on May 28 citing the earlier order.

On Monday the PPA along with Revenue and Police authorities moved for removal of the unauthorised structures, but found the injunction order of High Court pasted on the gates.

The authorities abiding by the High Court orders returned thereafter.

The Integrated Assembly Complex is to be constructed at Thattanchavady on a site measuring around seven hectares.

While most of the land is in government hands, a small portion measuring about two hectares and 73 acres is in private hands.

This is being acquired by the Department of Revenue under emergency provision for which the Revenue department has issued the notification on June 7.

The land acquisition will include the Muruga Theatre complex, Shenbhaga Timbers, open piece of fenced land and some areas in Thattanchavady industrial complex and of course government land in Puducherry regulated market and other surrounding areas.

The private land will  cost  around Rs 70 crore, according to official sources.

The land acquisition process is likely to take around three years, said Revenue officials.

Thereafter construction would be taken up in phases for which the PWD has prepared a provisional plan, sources said.

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