Explain delay in handing govt buildings: HC to TNHB

: Madras High Court has directed Tamil Nadu Housing Board to explain its inordinate delay in handing over public buildings and lands earmarked to respective departments in Tiruvallur district.
Justice M Sathyanarayanan, who heard a petition by one Kanimozhi Veeramani, president of Ayyapakkam village in Tiruvallur district, observed that though the buildings were constructed and lands earmarked, no proper response was submitted by the departments.
"This court is of the view that an additional affidavit should be filed, supported by material documents, stating the steps taken to ascertain the willingness of the user department to pay the cost of the buildings or give the said buildings free of cos" the court said.

The petitioner submitted that the JJ Nagar division of TNHB had constructed several buildings,besides earmarking land for police station, fire station, library, schools, community hall, clinic, and adult play ground in the village.
The Secretary, State Urban Development Department had convened a meeting and also passed a resolution to hand over the buildings in February, 2012. Despite this, the buildings were not handed over to the respective departments, she said.
The state government had allotted the lands at Ayyapakkam, Thirumullaivoyal and Ambattur free of cost to TNHB.

Around 23.05 acres of it was earmarked for college and adult playground, in the layout, the petitioner submitted.

However, TNHB converted this area into commercial and residential use as per their resolution in December 2013, she alleged.
Without knowledge of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, TNHB passed another resolution in March 2015 proposing to construct Lower Income Group, Middle Income Group and Higher Income Group flats, she submitted.
Under the scheme, TNHB had already provided 10,000 plots, where 60,000 residents were staying.
It also planned to construct 660 more dwelling units in Ayapakkam village, through a January 2016 notification, which would put an additional burden on CMDA, she said and sought an interim injunction restraining CMDA from proceeding ahead with the notification.