The Municipal Corporation has retrieved 47 acres of its land from encroachers at various places in the city.
While the authorities could vacate private parties from 25 acres of land at Vellakkal, the other places where encroachments were removed include Mathichiyam (1.25 acres), Avaniapuram (11.57 acres), Masthanpatti (8.64 acres) and Daya Park, Mayor V.V.Rajan Chellappa said here on Sunday.
Speaking after hoisting the national flag during the 65th Republic Day celebrations, he said the Corporation had 30,941 tubelights, 12,696 sodium vapour lights and 62 high mast lamps across the 100 wards. The city would have 4,000 streetlights in the areas annexed to the Corporation. Since the civic body had been giving priority to education, 4,954 boys and girls were given free laptops and 5,035 students of corporation schools got free bicycles, all at a cost of Rs.1.25 crore.
Ten ‘Amma Canteens’ were opened to sell food at subsidised prices. Another budget canteen would be opened in the Government Rajaji Hospital soon, he said.
He spoke on initiatives taken for constructing bridges at Goripalayam and Kalavasal, underground drainage facility, concrete houses, hospitals and dispensaries and for improving roads.
Earlier, he presented certificates to 35 corporation employees in recognition of their good service and prizes for 44 students who won competitions.
Kiran Gurrala, Corporation Commissioner, A.Mathuram, City Engineer, M.Rakkappan, Chief Town Planning Officer, and V.Yasodha Mani, City Health Officer, were present.
