Take decision on panel report, government told

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday directed the State Government to take a decision on the report of the Justice S Mohan Committee on unauthorised buildings in Chennai city in six weeks.Delivering an interim order on a plea by traders, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the secretary for Housing and Urban Development Department in the State Government to file an affidavit clearly disclosing the stand of the government and its decision taken on the report submitted by Justice S Mohan Committee within six weeks.It may be noted that the State government, in its counter affidavit in the HC two weeks ago, said that the recommendations of the  Justice S Mohan Committee, constituted in June 2007 to consider all aspects of developments and to suggest necessary modifications to the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, are under the active consideration of the government.The court also directed the Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to file separate affidavits stating as to whether there are 3.5 lakh unauthorised/deviated buildings and the number of commercial buildings, which are either unauthorised or have deviated from the approved plan.Furthermore, the court asked the Chennai Corporation and CMDA to file details such as whether notices were served on the owners/occupants of the buildings calling upon them to furnish the sanctioned plan, locking and sealing actions on them in their affidavits.The direction to the civic body and CMDA came in the backdrop of the petitioners submitting that though there are 3.5 lakh unauthorised/deviated buildings are in city, the authorities singled out only 26 and initiated action on them.Meanwhile, the First Bench also allowed the shops at T Nagar that were de-sealed for six weeks after the Supreme Court’s direction to remain open for eight more weeks effective from February 21.