Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Demolition on Cross-Cut Road takes traders by surprise

Special Correspondent

`This is Local Planning Authority's drive assisted by Corpn.'

ACTION, AT LAST: Unauthorised structures on the terrace of a commercial complex on Cross-Cut Road in the city being demolished on Saturday. - Photo: M. Periasamy

COIMBATORE: Hammers, power-driven cutters and pneumatic drills set about demolishing the top two floors of the five-storeyed commercial complex on Cross-Cut Road on Saturday, taking the city by surprise on a chilly morning with an action demanded every other day but last taken in 1990.

Oxidised deep blue aluminium sheets that formed a part of the elevation were pulled off first in the operation that began around 6 a.m.

The sudden operation on Saturday took the entire trade community on the road - a popular shopping area - by surprise. Pieces of concrete, aluminium sheets and other materials tumbled from the terrace of the building, watched by the builder of this complex, representatives of the owners of the other buildings and staff of the shops on the stretch and also councillors of the Coimbatore Corporation. Officials of the civic body said that this was the Local Planning Authority's drive that was being assisted by the Corporation.

Protest

The officials said that the only semblance of protest was from the builder. But the Corporation and police officials persuaded him to get off the building. No other form of protest followed and people watched with disbelief a demolition of this magnitude that was happening in the city after more than 15 years.

A worker involved in demolition suffered a cut on the left side of his head. The bleeding worker walked out of the building for treatment, assisted by the Corporation staff. Earlier, an aluminium sheet fell on a power line. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board was then requested to cut power supply to this building. Official sources said that the power-driven equipment could not be operated and for some time only hammers and crowbars were at work, till electricity was borrowed from another building.

Large holes

Joint Director of the Local Planning Authority S.A. Balasubramaniam said total demolition of the structures was not possible as it would take more than a week. Large holes were made on the floor of the terrace of the fifth and fourth floors. This would render the unauthorised structures unsuitable for use. With hundreds of buildings to be covered, gaping holes in the roof were seen as the best way to end violations.

Two notices - one in English and the other in Tamil - were pasted on the wall of the building facing Cross-Cut Road. Issued by the LPA, these warned of demolition by pointing out that notices had been issued earlier to remove the unauthorised structures.

The one in English, that was partially torn, said that the building owner had been served notices issued on June 5, September 29 and December 7 last year.

Highly placed sources in the Corporation said it was time some stringent action was initiated to send an unambiguous message that violations would not be tolerated anymore.

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