HC orders demolition of 2 illegally built buildings in K'kanal

Observing that illegally constructed buildings in the hill station of Kodaikanal would affect the ecology and environment, Madras High Court today ordered two such structures to be demolished and dismissed petitions against denying approval for them
Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan of the Madurai bench said that petitioners Karthick and Chinnathambi had made illegal constructions in violation of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act.
They had been granted permission to build a residential house and a farm house,but had constructed commercial lodges. Such buildings would affect the ecology and environment of the hill station and also all other factors like water supply, sewage maintenance, the judges said.

They said the rules had been framed only to protect the environment of the hill town and added that in such cases of violationm, authorities must not rest with rejection of permission, but take immediate steps to demolish all illegal and offending portions of the constructions.
The judges directed the Kodaikanal municipal Commissioner to immediately demolish the buildings or seal portions built in violation of rules and prevent any other use, other than that sanctioned
It dismissed the petitions seeking to quash the letters of the principal secretary written in 2016 and 2017, rejecting permission for their building on the ground that the letters had been issued under Tamilnadu town and Country Planning Act, while Kodaikanal was governed by the district Municipality Act.