Residents of Ragamalika Apartments in Adyar are in a fix as the Chennai corporation has demolished the compound wall of their apartment claiming it to be an encroachment.
While the residents assert that there was no deviation during construction, the civic body claims that a road had existed there. Residents complain that the “road” which was not there for the last 25 years, had suddenly materialised. The corporation is adamant that this road had once connected Parameswari Nagar and Jeevaratnam Nagar.
Residents say that no corporation road had existed before the building was constructed in the ’80s. The issue is said to have cropped up a few years ago after a flat owner had a disagreement with other residents over car parking. The resident used his clout to pressurise authorities to demolish the compound wall that got in the way of the alleged road between Parameswari Nagar and Jeeveratnam Nagar.
“The corporation had not denied approval for the building then. We had approached CMDA in 2000 seeking proof of the road’s existence, but they did not possess documents to establish the claim,” said Geetha, secretary, Ragamalika Residents Welfare Association.