The local unit of DMK has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged transfer of ‘Vanoli Thidal’ at Mudaliarpet belonging to Pondicherry Municipality to private hands.
In a statement, Puducherry DMK convener Dr M A S Subramanian said the land was donated by Raghavendra Chettiar in 1950 to Pondicherry Municipality for a park, to facilitate elderly to sit together and listen to news by tuning in Radio Ceylon, as has been the practice those days. Since then the municipality has been initiating people to use the place to conduct functions and events by charging a nominal fee.
However, now the ownership of ‘Vanoli Thidal’ has changed and it is in private hands, claims Subramanian. He alleged that the land was sold, using forged documents, to an individual in 2000 and he in turn sold it to another party subsequently. Though the land was brought under Land Ceiling Act, Subramanian questioned the deal.
Incidentally, the land situated in the town is valued at several crores in terms of Guideline Land Rate and the market price is still higher, observes Subramanian.
Though he had earlier petitioned the government in 2007 and 2010 to take possession of the ground which is being encroached, the then Congress governments under N Rangasamy and V Vaithilingam had not responded.
Only a thorough inquiry by CBI will bring out facts as to how the ownership of the land went to private hands, said Subramanian. Several political parties have also held demonstration and fast on this issue recently. The government should recommend a CBI probe into the land deal, he added.