HC directs depts to pay attention to eviction of encroachers

Madras High Court today directed various departments and the City Corporation to pay attention to evict the encroaches in Pallikaranai Marsh Land.
A petition was moved by 62 residents in the area who were living thre for the past 30 years challenged a December 12, 2012 government order transferring the land to Forest Department.
Justice N Kirubakaran, in his order after recording the submission made by M K Subramaniam, Special Government Pleader for Forest, in his order said all the Departments as well as Chennai Corporation have to pay the attention to evict the encroachers.
Therefore they are directed to find out who all the encroachers are and what are all the methods by which they can be evicted and file a report by October 16 and file the land records of the area.

The country's premier National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), which was established in 1993 as an autonomous society under Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, is one of the building which facing threat of eviction as the campus set up on encroached Pallikaranai Marsh land as per the submission of the Government pleader.
The Government Pleader appeared for the State Forest Department further said that eight government buildings including NIOT were set up in the Pallikaranai marsh land.
He further submitted that these building may have been constructed on patta land and details regarding the above lies with the revenue department.

The matter relates to encroaching of marsh land to the extent of 170.40.5 hectares.