Coimbatore : It has been a lone two-year old battle for Kanagasundaram, a resident of Parsn Sesh Nestle who has been fighting against his own gated community and authorities to open up the gated community's road for public use.
Coimbatore : It has been a lone two-year old battle for Kanagasundaram, a resident of Parsn Sesh Nestle who has been fighting against his own gated community and authorities to open up the gated community's road for public use.
Parsn Sesh Nestle under Ward no.75, East Zone has 615 apartments (including villas) uses the 60 feet scheme road as their private property, which connects Nanjundapuram and Ukkadam.
Kanagasundaram's battle has ended in victory now with the RTI Commissioner directing the Assistant Commissioner, East Zone to act on Kanagasundaram's petition and the Corporation official has agreed to do so. This came after Kanagasundaram who had filed a query under RTI regarding the road under question two years ago but had not received a proper reply from the Corporation, decided to petition the RTI Commissioner.
The RTI Commissoner conducted an inquiry last month during which the Assistant Commissioner, East Zone agreed to act on Kanagasundaram's query and do the needful to open up the road for public use.
Speaking on this, Kanagasundaram said, "Since 2017, I have been struggling to get information about this 60 feet road but in vain. Finally, after sending a petition to the RTI Commissioner, an inquiry was conducted last month at the District Collector's office. The Assistant Commissioner, East Zone, appeared for the inquiry along with the Town Planning Officer.
During the inquiry, the RTI Commissioner asked me if I was willing to leave the query if the objective was achieved, I replied that my objective was that the road should be opened up for public use. If that is done, I don't need further answers. The RTI Commissioner then posed the question to the Corporation official and he promised to do the needful and open up the said road for public use.
Now that the AC has agreed to do it, he has to complete the work immediately. I will wait for a month and if it is still not done, I will file a "non-compliance" case against the concerned official."
Kanagasundaram also mentioned about the approvals which are needed on the same issue, supposedly sanctioned by the East Zone Assistant Commissioner. "That was my other query. Nearly 20 approvals are needed for the road and I needed those approvals in case I have to approach the Court.
I have not received them yet. The RTI Commissioner instructed the Corporation officials to give me those approvals. The officials agreed to give me eight approvals the same day and the rest within 90 days. But I got only one, finally from them. It is shocking to know that the Corporation does not have approval copies given in the last 15 years. An inquiry must be ordered to bring out the truth."
Kanagasundaram claims he had to undergo immense struggle since he lives in the gated community where he faces stiff opposition from the community. When approached for a response to the issue, Swaminathan of Parsn Sesh Nestle's Residents Association initially said that the Association was not aware of the order and went on to say that there was no such issue at all.
SimpliCity had covered this issue extensively and created awareness in April 2017.