Remove illegal Broadway eateries: Madras high courtJustice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha issued a direction in this regard on a PIL filed by N T Arasu of Broadway. Encroachments at Broadway, Mannady and Thambu Chetty Street shall face action to begin with.

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CITYRemove illegal Broadway eateries: Madras high court
TNN | Updated: Feb 9, 2020, 10:44 IST






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Encroachments, especially by eateries and roadside hotels like these, are rampant in the Mannady area.

CHENNAI: Marking a court-monitored crackdown on eateries encroaching upon platforms and dishing out unhygienic food, the Madras high court directed the city corporation and other agencies to remove such eateries in Broadway, and file a report by February 28.
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A division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha issued a direction in this regard on a PIL filed by N T Arasu of Broadway. Encroachments at Broadway, Mannady and Thambu Chetty Street shall face action to begin with.
It was Arasu’s case that a large number of encroachments, especially by eateries and roadside hotels, had come up in Mannady where he has been residing for about four decades. Though these outlets have not taken any licence or permission from civic authorities, the latter turned a blind eye and even patrolling personnel did not bother to take action against the illegal occupation of public space.

V Lakshminarayanan, counsel for Arasu, told the bench that these eateries erected stalls, ovens and gas cylinders on pavements, impeding movement of other road-users. Besides traffic snarls, such encroachments forced people to walk on carriage way risking their lives and limbs, he said.
The PIL petition went on to say that even a handful of licensed outlets should be removed the moment it comes to light that they are illegally occupying public space. Arasu said he had sent representations to officials, the last being in April 2019, and lodged at least eight online complaints. Yet, none of these complaints evoked any response or action from officials, making it clear that they were colluding with the violators.

In this regard, Arasu cited a 2014 judgment of the Madras high court which ordered immediate closure of hotels, restaurants, eating houses and boarding houses if they do not adhere to due procedure. The order specifically directed Greater Chennai Corporation, Metrowater and Tangedco to disconnect power and water supply to such entities till they comply with mandatory requirements.
“Despite the order of the high court, no action has been taken by the respondent-officials. What would be clear on a bare perusal or visit to Mannady area, seems to escape the attention of the officials,” Arasu said, adding that authorities are duty bound to maintain public roads and pavements and keep them free of encroachments.
In the case of Broadway, due to the inaction of officials, the number of encroachments and the scale of violations have been increasing, he said. Arasu wanted the court to order survey of public space in the region, note encroachments and remove them, all within a timeframe specified by the court.

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