source: The Hindu, January 19, 2007

TIRUPUR: Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Tirupur MLA C. Govindasamy on Thursday said he would take up the issue of distribution to residents pattas of the land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department with the Chief Minister.

Demanding issuance of pattas to the residents of temple land, Mr. Govindasamy at a press conference said more than 1,000 residents in 15 layouts across Nallur Municipality were affected by the latest move of the HR&CE.

He said people, after buying the land with their hard-earned money, had been residing in the layouts for more than two decades.

Though all the land dealings were registered, they were deprived of electricity and water connections.

Now, the HR&CE was asking them to vacate the place as it belonged to various temples.

The MLA said it was not a local issue but a State-wide one. "They are residing at the place for more than 25 years. Where will they go if the authorities put pressure on them to vacate?" he asked.

He thanked the Chief Minister for his recent announcement that the State Government would consider distributing pattas to those residing on the Government lands for more than 10 years.

Mr. Govindasamy said the Government should distribute the land free of cost as the residents had already paid the price to those who had sold them. Or the Government should fix a nominal rate for the land.

More than 400 affected people attended.