CHENNAI: After nearly 20 years of legal battle, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday reclaimed 91-acre government land worth Rs 2,000 crore encroached by Jeppiaar Educational Trust at Semmenchery on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
“Jeppiaar Educational Trust had encroached 91 acre government land for the past 20 years. After a long legal battle in various courts, including the high court, the Chengalpet district court gave a verdict in favour of the government,” revenue minister KKSSR Ramachandran told reporters after inspecting the reclaimed land along with health minister Ma Subramanian.
“The trust had built hostels on the encroached land. Girl students were staying in those hostels. The officials were instructed to discuss with the college management on making alternative arrangements for the students before evicting them. They will be given sufficient time,” he further said.
“The value of the reclaimed land was calculated in 2012 as Rs 1,000 crore. It would have reached Rs 2,000 crore in the next nine years,” Ramachandran said. “Chief minister M K Stalin has asked us to clear encroachments on government lands. He has also asked us to reclaim leased government land parcels if they are not used for purposes stipulated in the lease agreement,” the minister said.
The state government has also sent a notice to all district collectors seeking details about encroachments on government lands and pending cases.
“We will retrieve all government land from private parties as the state government is in need of land for development activities. For example, we are not able to provide land to health department for building hospitals in prime areas due to encroachments. So, we will remove those encroachments and handover the lands for implementing government schemes,” he said.
He has also asked us to reclaim leased government land parcels if they are not used for purposes stipulated in the lease agreement,” the minister said.
The state government has also sent a notice to all district collectors seeking details about encroachments on government lands and pending cases.
“We will retrieve all government land from private parties as the state government is in need of land for development activities. For example, we are not able to provide land to health department for building hospitals in prime areas due to encroachments. So, we will remove those encroachments and handover the lands for implementing government schemes,” he said.
