The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Concern over `gifting' of scheme road

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Concern over `gifting' of scheme road

Staff Reporter

In a letter to the Mayor, the Opposition parties pointed out that it was for the first time in the history of the Corporation that a scheme road proposed by the LPA had been "gifted" to a private party

COIMBATORE: : The Opposition in the Coimbatore Corporation Council has called for a special meeting to discuss allocation of 50 per cent of a scheme road in Papanaickenpalayam for a residential layout.

The issue dominated last month's Council meeting with the Opposition accusing the Town Planning Department for "giving away" 40 feet of the 80 feet road to the layout.

They wanted to know how the Corporation could "gift" a road that was proposed by the Local Planning Authority and without the move being brought to the notice of the Council.

Sources in the Opposition said they were aggrieved over lack of action so far and felt that such a serious issue should be discussed at an exclusive meeting of the Council to get back the "gifted" part of the road and also find ways to prevent recurrence of instances where precious public property did not fall into private hands.

First time in history

In a letter to the Mayor, T. Malaravan, signed by 30 of its members, the Opposition on Thursday appealed to him to convene the special meeting on May 23.

Led by the Leader of the Opposition and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, K.P. Jagannathan, the councillors submitted the letter to the Mayor and pointed out that it was for the first time in the history of the Corporation that a scheme road proposed by the LPA had been "gifted" to a private party.

Members' concern

What pained the members was that the whole issue had been kept away from the Council.

The sources said the Opposition saw no reason why the request for the meeting should be turned down even if corrective measures had already been initiated by the Corporation.

The core issue might be that of the road.

But, overall, it pointed to a disconcerting approach of bypassing the Council and granting approval for schemes by private parties that invaded public amenities. The Opposition pointed out in the Council that by clearing 8.76 acres for the layout, the road width would be reduced to 40 feet.

Already, many houses had encroached various stretches of the road, the members said.

The scheme road connected 100 Feet Road at Gandhipuram with SNR Sons College in Peelamedu.

As per plan, it should serve as an alternative route from Gandhipuram to Peelamedu and thereby help decongest Avanashi Road.

Detailed discussion

With too many issues dealt with that day, the Opposition wanted a detailed discussion on the road.

Its members asserted on Thursday that this was a very serious issue and could not be discussed among other things at a routine meeting.

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Concern over `gifting' of scheme road