R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, OCT 13
The Central Chennai District Unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to stop forthwith the relocation or eviction of over 340 residents from Peters Colony (Tamil Nadu Government Servants Rental Housing Scheme) of TNHB in the middle of the academic year amidst pandemic.
In a representation addressed to the TNHB Managing Director and submitted to the District Revenue Officer Parameshwari in person by the CPI (M) Central Chennai District Secretary G. Selva, the memorandum said the residents of Peters Colony – the majority of them working in Secretariat, Government employees, High Court employees, differently-abled and journalists – should not be disturbed at this juncture.
He said Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had given an assurance on the floor of the assembly that if the residents’ handover their flats, the government would build new houses and reallocate to them again.
In contravention to his statement, the Tamil Nadu Housing Board Special Schemes Project II has issued a Tender No. SPC-II, 12/2019-20 advertisement stating that it would undertake construction of a Multistoried Office Cum Commercial Complex (3 Basement + GF + 17 Floors) at Peters Colony, in Mylapore @ S. No. 343/2, Mylapore Village & Taluk, Chennai District in leading newspapers.
“How the TNHB decided to construct a commercial complex in contravention of the official assurance given by the Deputy Chief Minister on the floor of the assembly?” Selva questioned.
He also wondered why the government is keen to relocate the residents in the middle of the academic year.
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Relocating frontline warriors working in Royapettah Government General Hospital, Omandurar Multi-Specialty Hospital, Kasturba Government Hospital, and Egmore Children’s Hospital from Peters Colony will be detrimental to their dedicated service to the humanity and it will affect the government’s initiative to protect its citizens from the coronavirus, he added.
Keeping the above humanitarian facts in mind, the government should cancel the tender for the construction of a multi-story shopping complex.
If the government finds the structural stability of the buildings is weak, it should take measures to build new houses in Survey No. 343/2.
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As the government itself expressed fear over the second wave of corona in the state and especially in Chennai, relocating residents of Peters Colony should be dropped forthwith, Selva demanded.
He also opined that the land allocated for the residential purpose should not be converted for a commercial purpose and is not acceptable at any cost.
