Houses for Kakkan’s kin, Nallakannu to be allotted

Responding to the recent news items and the queries raised by MLAs commenting that the state has forcibly vacated the family members from the government-sanctioned plots, Panneerselvam denied it.

There is no element of truth in the media reports and the state officials never forced the tenants to vacate from the Tamil Nadu Housing board plots.

In the year 1953, the state constructed a total of 119 houses in CIT Colony. In the year 1971, the state-sanctioned the rent-free house to P Kakkan and after his demise, the state again allowed the wife of veteran leader to stay in the same house. After the demise of Sornam Kakkan, the children of the late leaders were allowed to stay. But in the year 2004-06 the government realised that the houses were weak and unfit for accommodation.

Similarly, in 2007 the state-sanctioned rent-free house for veteran communist leader Nallakannu. In 2011, these houses were deemed to be unfit for occupation and the housing board sent a notice to all 119 houses, asking them to vacate.

The matter went to Madras High Court and Supreme Court. The Madras High Court passed directions to the occupants to vacate by March 2019. Of the 119 houses, 96 beneficiaries have vacated. In May, Nallakannu voluntarily vacated the house but is yet to hand over the possession to TNHB. Considering the dedication and the sacrifices made by the political leaders the state is ready to offer free houses for both the beneficiaries at a place of their interest, Panneerselvam added.

It may be noted that the DMK president MK Stalin has alleged that the ruling AIADMK government has failed to respect the veteran freedom fighters and their families by forcibly vacating them. Freedom fighter and Communist leader Nallakannu has recently moved to his daughter’s rented house in south Chennai.