Land sharks threaten senior citizens in Besant Nagar

V Chandrasekhar, President, Senior Citizens Group of Besant Nagar, said that those living in the Government Officials Co-Op Housing Soceity (GOCHS), which was formed in 1970 by the then government officials, are facing threats. 

“This is one of the largest housing societies in Chennai with over 200 flats. We got these flats about 50 years ago. Now, we are over 70 and many of us are living alone since our children have settled down in other cities across India and abroad. These buildings are old and have a lot of land attached to it. For example, in the block of six flats where I live, there is an area of 7,200 sq feet which is valued at Rs 9 crore. There is enormous value for rebuilding,” said Chandrasekhar. 

The senior citizen added that those who had opted for redevelopment offers, in hope of a bigger flat, were sorely disappointed. “Out of the 200 flats, 50 have already gone for redevelopment, out of which only 25 have been built, while others are either stagnant or under litigation,” he said, adding that he too has been victimised. Chandrasekhar said that since he was resisting the offer in his complex, he was being threatened. “Two of the owners in my block died and their spouses sold the flats. One has sold the house while another is in an old-age home. The remaining two are the land broker and me. Since I don’t wish to sell or want to go for joint development, he has been threatening to kill me. I don’t want to vacate. Where can I go?” he rued. 

Chandrasekhar said that his attempts to seek redressal have gone in vain. “My wife and I had written to the CM’s cell on September 5, 2016, and a copy of the complaint was handed over to an Inspector at Shastri Nagar police station. But, the Inspector dismissed it as a trivial matter and refused to file an FIR. How can a threat to a person’s life be trivial?” he wondered. 

When contacted, the Inspector said, “The complaint was a civil dispute, regarding joint development of the property. The persons should take the legal route,” he said.