CHENNAI: Cracking the whip on illegal constructions, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) on Friday sealed three multi-storey buildings in George Town area.
While two of the the ground-plus-two-floor buildings that faced the axe are at Anna Pillai Street, the third is at Coral Merchant Street in Mannady. “These buildings got approvals for certain number of floors, but violated it during construction,” a CMDA official said. The sealing procedure was completed around 8.30am.
While the two buildings at Anna Pillai Street were under construction the one in Mannady houses at least four offices that deal with shipping business. It is a five-storey structure with each floor having 3,000 sqft of built-up area. Employees who visited their offices were in for a shock as the building was shut for access.
CMDA sources said the action was taken in the backdrop of a Madras High Court’s direction. When a PIL came up in 2014, the court had ordered an inspection of all the buildings in George Town area. Later, an inspection conducted by the Greater Chennai Corporation found only 72 buildings of the total 11,300 odd structures adhered to the rules.
“Following this, continuous action is being initiated against illegal constructions by the CMDA and Greater Chennai Corporation at George Town. Friday’s lock and sealing was part of it,” the CMDA official noted.
Meanwhile, another building at Madavaram was sealed last week. According official sources, the building under construction was planned for a hospital. “The structure was completely unauthorised as it did not have any planning permission,” an official privy to the development said. The builder had approached the court for relief. “We also moved our case and finally, the unauthorised building has been sealed,” the officer said.
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