Latest news with #OpenSpaceReservation
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC directs Madurai Corporation to demolish temple constructed unauthorisedly on OSR land
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Madurai Corporation to demolish a temple constructed unauthorisedly on an Open Space Reservation (OSR) land in Madurai. The court was hearing the petition filed by R. Mayilsamy of Madurai who had sought a direction to the authorities to remove the unauthorised construction under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act. The petitioner complained that a temple was constructed illegally by some residents of an apartment complex on the OSR land in New Vilangudi. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that OSR land cannot be allowed to be encroached upon even by the residents of the apartment complex. The OSR lands are to be maintained in the manner contemplated under the Act and the Rules in force. The court observed that it is clear that the temple had been constructed without permission and was unauthorised. The OSR land had been utilised for construction of a temple in violation of the Act and the Rules. The Supreme Court and the High Courts have time and again reiterated that OSR lands cannot be encroached upon by the resident or any other person. It is to be maintained by the authorities in the manner contemplated under the Act and the Rules, the court observed. Since the temple has been constructed unauthorisedly in the OSR land of the apartment complex and in violation of the Rules, the structure has to be demolished and the OSR land is to be maintained scrupulously in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Rules. The court directed Madurai Corporation to demolish the unauthorised construction and restore the land to its original position as per the approved building plan in four weeks. The matter was posted for reporting compliance on July 2.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIADMK, CPI (M) oppose move to hike advance payments for water tax and UGD at council meeting in Madurai Corporation
Expressing their displeasure, AIADMK and CPI (M) councillors urged the Madurai Corporation to withdraw the resolution to hike advance payment for water tax and under ground drainage (UGD) here on Thursday. As the resolution was read at the council meeting that was chaired by Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth in the presence of Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan and Commissioner Chitra Vijayan at Anna Maaligai, the Councillors belonging to both the parties stood up and registered their protest. The people were already burdened due to hike in prices of many services including essential services. The Corporation should not burden the common man, said Vijaya Councillor CPI (M). The AIADMK Councillor and leader in the Council Solai Raja said that the Corporation should lay the roads swiftly as many stretches were in a bad shape. The road cutting charges for laying underground cables or for other works had also been raised by five per cent. This too should be dropped forthwith, he stressed. DMK zone Chairperson Vasuki said that the Councillors should be given ₹25 lakh each for spending in their respective wards in the lines of MP/MLA funds. This would help the members to plan and implement schemes for the people without hassle. She also wanted to know the reason for not opening the electric crematoriums built at Anaiyur, Melamadai and Naganakulam though they were ready for use. Saravana Bhuvaneshwari (DMK) urged the Mayor to spell out if the Open Space Reservation (OSR) land in the name of the Corporation had been transferred in the Commissioner's name. By delaying, she feared it may be encroached upon by people and then the administration would find it tough to evict the encroachers in future. Pandiselvi (DMK) said that when the Councillors in Tiruchi and Coimbatore Corporations were given ₹50 lakh each to spend in their wards, the administration here in Madurai provided only ₹25 lakh. This could be enhanced to at least ₹40 lakh each, she said. Pass for celestial wedding When a majority of the members sought the Corporation to make arrangements to issue pass so that they could attend the celestial wedding at Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple as part of the Chitirai festival next month, the Mayor said that even she had never been to the temple on the occasion in the past. 'I see the wedding being performed on TV,' she quipped. Councillor Baskaran, who represents the temple ward, said that though he managed to get a pass, he was stopped by the authorities last year. As the Councillors wanted to attend both the celestial wedding and Lord Kallazhagar's entry in Vaigai river, they urged the Corporation to get them the passes for both the events.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Coimbatore Corporation to expedite OSR land conversion process
The Coimbatore Corporation has decided to speed up the process of transferring Open Space Reservation (OSR) lands to its name. An integrated meeting was held on Monday involving officials from the Corporation, Municipality, Registration Department, Local Planning Authority, and Revenue Department to discuss issues related to bulk subdivision, OSR land subdivision, and rejections under the Online Patta Transfer (OPT) system in rural areas. The discussion centred on rejections made by tahsildars for various reasons. Local bodies were directed to rectify and resubmit the rejected cases and to prepare revised layout plans earmarking OSR lands, where necessary. Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said that the OSR name transfer process would be completed quickly. He said that in cases of encroachment, removal would be initiated, and surveyors would be directed to submit the required documents afresh. He noted that while only about 200 OSR lands had earlier been transferred to the Corporation's name, the current figure stood at around 1,600 out of an estimated total of 2,500 parcels. As per data compiled by the Corporation, 464 OSR land title change applications were rejected. Reasons cited include the absence of gift deeds, the presence of encroachments, joint patta holdings, attempts to issue individual pattas online based on seniority, and applications being returned without proper scrutiny.
