Memorandum sent on 23.11.2009 to the Lt. Governor, Chief Minister, Minister for Revenue, Chief Secretary, Secretary for Revenue, Collector, Deputy Collector (Revenue) – North, Director, Land and Survey:
On behalf of Federation for People’s Rights (FPR), we would like to submit this memorandum in the public interest, with a request to take appropriate action.
Hon’ble Mr. M. O. H. F. Shahjahan, Minister for Public Works and Transport is taking efforts to provide free pattas to the people of Lawspet constituency, for constructing houses. He has selected the land in R.S. No. 53/25 and No. 53/26 situated in Karuvadikuppam, Lawspet area, deliberately knowing that the said site is meant for canal and road which is meant for common use of the public inhabiting the Karuvadikuppam area. The revenue records stand as a credible testimony to the above said contention (Survey record enclosed).
The said road called us “Morattandi Salai” exists for more than 100 years and connects the Karuvadikuppam and Morattandi village of Villupuram District, Tamilnadu. The residents of Lakshmi Nagar, Lakshmi Nagar Extension, Nesavalar Nagar, Nagamman Nagar, Santhi Nagar of Puducherry are utilizing this road. Further the said road is having access to the cremation and burial grounds at Karuvadikuppam. The students belongs to Karuvadikuppam are using this road to walk off to their educational institutions like Tagore Arts College, Motilal Nehru Polytechnic, Women’s Polytechnic, Community College, Junior Technical School, etc. If the road in common use is distributed as free pattas for house sites, the breadth of the said road will be shortened to 7 feet and the people of this area will be face immense hardship.
The said canal is essentially required for providing drainage facility for the local inhabitants. The rain water is being drained during rainy season. It is worth to note, that severe drainage problem has been created in Puducherry, as the government has closed all the drainage canals in this region. The Environmentalists who are struggling to save the nature is seriously concerned in this regard.
Another notable point is that this road and canal situated very near to the Airport. The Government has a comprehensive plan to develop the Airport in future. If the Airport extension is completed, the said road would be of immense use to the public to reach the Airport easily.
Pressing our demand to drop the Government move to issue pattas for house sites in the above mentioned land, we have conducted a peaceful demonstration on 04.11.2009 at Lawspet. Huge number of local people attended the demonstration and various Political Party leaders have extended their support to the reasonable struggle.
Meanwhile, the Karuvadikuppam Councilor Mr. N. Periyannan filed a Writ Petition in the Hon’ble High Court of Madras (W.P. No. 22372 0f 2009) and obtained interim Injunction Order till 16.11.2009. (Order copy enclosed). The said case came for hearing on 16.11.2009 and the Interim Injunction was further extended to two weeks.
In this context, we humbly request your good self to kindly consider our petition and take appropriate action to protect the existing road and canal, besides saving the nature ultimately.
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