CHENNAI: The former mayor of the Corporation of Chennai and DMK MLA, M Subramanian on Tuesday urged the State to change the classification of grama natham pattas in Greater Chennai as ryotwari as people faced difficulties in constructing buildings under the present system.
Raising the issue during the question hour, Subramanian said when those who had thoraya patta (natham patta) approached the authorities for approval to build houses, they faced problems.
“While the Corporation authorities approved one-plus-two building (stilt plus two), the CMDA did not give the same concession for thoraya patta.”
As the Chennai Corporation was not Greater Chennai Corporation, there was no need for grama natham classification. There were hundreds of villages in each Assembly constituency. So the classification could be changed as ryotwari patta to end the problems faced by people.
Subramanian recalled that in 1996, during the DMK regime, instead of ‘enjoyment certificate’, patta was given and special tahsildars were appointed for that.
However, the work was yet to be completed. As such, the change of grama natham classification as ryotwari alone would be a permanent solution in the city.
Responding, the Revenue Minister said in the case of regularisation of encroachments, this classification could not be done.
However wherever necessary in other cases, change of classification was being done. In Saidapet, 1,127 house pattas had been identified in grama natham areas and of them, thorayapatta had been given to 842 persons who were living on less than 100 sq.ft. while the proposal to issue similar patta to 285 persons who were living on more than 100 sq.ft. had been sent to the authorities.