Thousands of residents in Pallavaram and places nearby could soon have a reprieve with the ban on sale of land and construction in the area, where there are many Archaeological Survey of India-designated heritage structures, is expected to go.
Members of a delegation of Pallavaram residents, which visited Delhi recently, said Union minister for cul ture Mahesh Sharma promised them that the restriction would be removed in the next session of Parliament.
They said the assurance came after they explained to the minister that the ASI's Chennai circle office had said 83% of the area in Pallavaram was not fit for any archaeological research as most of it was developed.
In 2010, after an amendment to the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act regu lated construction in the vicinity of ASI designated sites, property prices in Pallavaram and surrounding areas. The amended provisions ban construction in the prohibited area, within 100m of ASI sites. In the regulated area, with a 200m radius, alterations can be undertaken after obtaining no-objection certificates from the competent authority .
Since then, residents could not sell property or make alterations. Some who bought houses or lands elsewhere and were banking on the money they expected from sale of property in the regulated areas were particularly affected.
These residents are now waiting for the final announcement in Parliament.
Sheela Fernandes, whose mother owns a site in one of the affected areas, said her family had been trying to sell it for a long time. “My mother is ill and needs the money for her treatment.“
