Residents protest gas station in Royapettah

Residents said that the Go Gas station was constructed without obtaining required permissions. “The land is owned by former Minister Raja Kannapan and it has been vacant for more than two years. In March 2019, the plot was cleaned and the construction was started. When we enquired, we were informed that an LPG gas station will be opened there soon. We filed complaints at the Corporation office and Department of Explosives. After a few days, zonal officials made a visit. Later, a notice to stop the construction was issued in April as the facility did not have Corporation approval,” Prabhu, president of Hanumantha Road Residents’ Association, said.

He added that the construction was stalled for almost six months after that. “After Deepavali, the construction work resumed. When asked, the labourers said that it has been approved by the Corporation. We again filed a complaint at the Corporation office. But the officials said that they have approved the construction,” Prabhu said.

Residents said that there is a Corporation school within 50 meters, and the LPG station and a temple share the same compound wall. “LPG station should not be built in a residential area. There is also a transformer opposite to the station. J Anbazhagan, MLA, joined us in the protest and assured to do any help we require,” said Srividhya Anand, a resident.

When contacted, a senior Corporation official said, “The owners of the gas station have got approval from all the departments concerned and there won’t be any harm if the gas station is installed in a residential area.”