OPS talks to Nallakannu, assures to provide house

A statement from the state housing department, said, “The houses in CIT Colony were constructed in 1953 and as they were too old and not in a good condition, people residing in the building were asked to vacate. However, Nallakannu and the descendants of former Minister, Kakkan, would be given alternate rented houses in the city.”

Recently, there were reports that Nallakannu was asked to vacate the government rented house in CIT Nagar and Nallakannu too shifted to a rented house in KK Nagar. The report also stated that descendants of Kakkan were also asked to vacate the house.

The report created various controversies and leaders of various political parties condemned the state government for the incident. They were also debates whether state government had insulted Nallakannu, one of the straight forward politicians in the state and the heirs of Kakkan, a former freedom fighter.

Meanwhile, the housing department had clarified that Nallakannu was asked to vacate as the houses were dilapidated and he willingly vacated. “After the Supreme Court struck down the cases filed against vacating the houses, in February, this year, Nallakannu handed over the house on Saturday. However, descendants of Kakkan have not vacated the house,” stated the report.

The report also stated that Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who is also in-charge of Housing Department, had contacted Nallakannu and assured that alternate house would be provided to him. During the conversation, Nallakannu had demanded Panneerselvam to arrange alternate house for descendants of Kakkan too and Panneerselvam had assured him that alternate rented houses would be provided for both.

The 119 government houses in CIT colony were constructed under City Improvement Trust in 1953 and in 2003-04, as the houses were dilapidated, government decided to construct new houses under integrated housing scheme.

In 2011, government took a decision to vacate people residing in the rented houses but cases were filed at Madras High Court challenging the decision of the state government. After a long-drawn legal battle, the state government succeeded in getting the judgment in its favour.