GCC Issues 15-Day Eviction Notices to 21 ECR Bungalows for CRZ Violations

The Greater Chennai Corporation has served eviction notices to residents of 21 sea-facing bungalows, houses, and other structures in Neelankarai, Injambakkam, and Uthandi along East Coast Road, directing them to vacate the premises within 15 days due to violations of Coastal Regulation Zone rules.

The civic body announced that it will lock and seal the buildings once the 15-day deadline expires, with demolition potentially following the enforcement action. The move comes after the state Housing and Urban Development Department rejected appeals filed by property owners in cases that had remained pending for 10 to 15 years.

In addition to the 21 eviction notices, the corporation has directed the owners of three other houses to rectify floor space index violations and deviations. Under CRZ-II regulations, construction is allowed exclusively on the landward side of an existing road or approved infrastructure that existed in 1991, with the permissible FSI capped at 0.8.

The affected properties are located along East Coast Road and fall under the civic administration's wards 192, 194, and 197. Civic authorities noted that in instances where the FSI exceeds 0.8, owners have been instructed to modify their houses. Officials stated that surveys of structures along the coast are continuing to prevent environmental violations.

Legal challenges surrounding coastal properties in the area remain widespread. Approximately 400 property owners have moved the Madras High Court, while another 400 owners have submitted appeals to the Housing and Urban Development Department, where cases are currently under review by the additional secretary.