Councillors have urged the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to stop collecting fee for sports facilities developed on OSR lands earmarked in the residential layouts.

At the GCC Council meeting on Wednesday, councillors alleged that residents were opposing the move to collect a fee from residents who use sports facilities in OSR lands. For instance, the residents in ward 153 have demanded the GCC to stop collecting a fee for the badminton court, while residents of ward 151 have opposed the fee collection in a skating facility on a OSR land. The OSR land was meant to be used for recreation by the owners of the houses in the layout. Another badminton court in ward 149 has also been developed on a OSR land and residents have to pay for visiting the facility.

Ward 84 councillor J. John said the sports facility in his ward was developed on the OSR land under the Namakku Naamae Thittam and the residents were paying money for using the sports facilities.

Valasaravakkam zone chairman Nolambur Rajan said the OSR lands are meant for recreation of the people who purchased land in the layout, and it is unethical to collect money for recreation from the owners of the land.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said, “Regarding user charges for play facilities like badminton court, tennis court etc it is done as per council resolution and the purpose is to have good maintenance of the facility and create ownership among the community. The user charges are far less than the market rates.”