As part of efforts to accelerate work on the project to restore the Cooum, the Water Resources Department kicked off its drive to remove encroachments in Kakkan Nagar, Aminjikarai, on Wednesday.
The department had identified 252 families to be resettled from the locality along the banks of the Cooum river. Officials of the WRD said a total of 69 families have now moved to Perumbakkam tenements. There was a delay as the residents wanted the same block to be allotted to all of them.
Allotment orders were distributed to the residents on Wednesday and the demolition of the structures would begin on Thursday. The drive would continue in the locality. The department would simultaneously begin clearing of encroachments in Pallavan Nagar, Chintadripet, on Thursday from where nearly 1,000 families would be resettled.
It had identified about 14,000 structures to be removed along the river bank.
‘Little notice’
Meanwhile, many residents complained that they were not given sufficient notice about the eviction. “The officials informed us orally on Tuesday and they started the eviction process on Wednesday,” said a woman, who was among those evicted.
She said the evicted were taken to the TNSCB tenements in Perumbakkam but were not allotted houses till evening. “We wanted an entire block for the Kakkan Nagar residents. We had to wait outside for hours. There was no coordination between the PWD and the TNSCB,” alleged Kathirvel, another resident.
Many raised the issue of shifting families in the middle of the academic year. “Several children are studying in private schools. We don’t know how they will travel daily,” he pointed out.
According to Vanessa Peters, policy researcher with the Information and Resource Centre for Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC), the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007 (Act 8 of 2007) clearly mentions that the officer should issue legal notices prior to eviction. “There is also a shortage of schools in Perumbakkam. The children will suffer if they are shifted when the academic year is on,” she said.
Denying the charges, officials of the WRD said allotment orders were received nearly a year ago and the residents were consulted before the eviction drive was carried out on Wednesday.
Published - September 26, 2019 01:11 am IST
