MP Leads Agitation Of Residents
Victims living on surplus lands as declared by the Land Ceiling Act, led by Coimbatore MP K. Subbarayan, staging a demonstration at Ondipudur on Sunday demanding withdrawal of ban on registration of their properties. Hundreds of residents living in layouts, declared as surplus lands under the Land Ceiling Act, staged a demonstration in front of the office of Village administration officer on Trichy Road at Ondipudur on Sunday morning. It was led by Member of Parliament, Coimbatore, K. Subbarayan. Hundreds of residents living in layouts, declared as surplus lands under the Land Ceiling Act
Victims of the Act had originally announced a plan to stage a fast. Following denial of police permission and persuasion by the authorities, Mr. Subbarayan announced that they would stage a demonstration for two hours to draw the attention of the Government. He is planning to meet Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin along with representatives of the residents on April 2. President of the association of victims residing in ‘surplus lands’ R. Mohan told that they had purchased these house sites in 1985 and the Government under the Land Ceiling Act had declared these as surplus lands in 1999.
He said the residents, mostly middle income group families who were workers of various textile mills, had purchased these lands 23 years ago and were living here in nearly 3,000 houses in 93 layouts. With textile mills turning defunct these workers were left with only these houses bought with their hard-earned money. The authorities have imposed a ban on registration and re-registrations of these lands. They even refused to accept development and regularisation charges. Mr. Mohan said this ‘administrative lapse’ had resulted in many families not being able to sell their assets or avail loans.
There were even cases of attempts to commit suicides, he said. The residents had even staged a protest by hoisting black flags atop their houses on August 29, 2007. Now, they are pinning hopes on MP’s scheduled meeting with the Local Administration Minister on April 2. They expect an announcement exempting these lands from the category of surplus lands.
31.03.2008.
