December 31 deadline for regularisation
The Coimbatore Corporation is making all-out efforts to get 93 layouts in the city exempted from the Urban Land Ceiling Act.Only the exemption can help them get regularised just like more than 650 others have, under the Government’s scheme to enable the civic body provide basic amenities in these areas.“The December 31 deadline for regularisation is not far away,” Mayor R. Venkatachalam pointed out.“That is why we are making fervent appeals to all the Ministers concerned to grant exemption,” Mr. Venkatachalam said after meeting Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin, Revenue Minister I. Periyasamy and Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy in Chennai recently.Being a legislator from Coimbatore East, Mr. Palanisamy was also taking up the issue with the other Ministers.Mayor Venkatachalam said that 2,570 house sites in 93 layouts were found to be Government surplus lands under the Act.Of these house sites , 1,935 sites in 63 layouts were in Singanallur, an Assembly constituency.Totally, 258 acres were under this category, of which 186 acres were in Singanallur alone.
This problem came to light when the Corporation began the process of regularising house sites in 761 layouts across the city.Residents, who bought the sites and built houses claimed that they were not aware that these were Government surplus lands.These were also duly registered.The Mayor said that Mr. Palanisamy had offered to sit with the other Ministers and hammer out a solution.The Corporation, he said, would not leave the 93 layouts in the lurch and would make every effort possible to get the exemption.“We plan to submit a petition to all the legislators from Coimbatore, provide them with the details and request them to raise the issue in the Assembly during its session in October,” the Mayor said.“A solution has to come from the Assembly as the problem involved an Act.”
The Mayor said he, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik and all-party leaders from the Corporation Council would try and meet Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi close to the Assembly session and appeal for a solution.“At present, we see some signs of a discussion on this issue. It comes under the purview of the Revenue Minister and he has assured to look into it,” Mr. Venkatachalam said.Stating that the Corporation wanted to turn Coimbatore into a city with no unapproved layout, the Mayor said that only then would all the people get all amenities in their areas.
“We will provide underground drainage, drinking water supply and other basic facilities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,” the Mayor said.He pointed out that if the exemption from the Act was not given, 93 layouts would not get the benefits of the Central Government’s infrastructure development programme.
