HR&CE authorities remove encroachments from the land belonging to Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai on Saturday. Photo: K. V. Srinivasan.
The temple owns 103 grounds in the R.A Puram area
Property worth Rs. 25 crore in the heart of the city belonging to the Kapaleeswarar temple was recovered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department on Saturday.
Encroachments, including a mechanics shop, were removed from the property on Bughs Road in R.A. Puram near Greenways Road.
“The mechanics shed had caught fire on Friday. It was rented out by one person who had encroached upon six grounds of land belonging to the temple, which owns 103 grounds of land in that area,” said a source in the department.
A compound wall is being constructed to safeguard the retrieved piece of land.
The encroacher had also constructed his house on one ground of land. The structure would be removed later.
Steps are also being initiated to remove encroachments from other parts of the 103 grounds, the source explained. Around 200 police personnel assisted in the drive. A team of over 200 police personnel led by Kotturpuram Assistant Commissioner B. Nandakumar and Royapettah Assistant Commissioner K. Ramachandran and police inspector Abhiramapuram (L&O) Rajeshkhanna were at the spot from 9 a.m.
The department has been taking steps to retrieve property belonging to the temple. 30 grounds of land that was used by a private school, 18 grounds from West Kesava Perumal Puram that was used as a parking lot and 11 grounds adjacent to that were retrieved over the past year.
Every year, the temple gets rent of around Rs. 5 crore from various properties from 250 tenants.