A section of Kannagi Nagar residents staged a protest against eviction by Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board on Wednesday. Officials of the Board had sealed 32 houses a few days ago as they had found the occupants staying in them illegally. The residents claimed they were moved to Thoraipakkam from Kilpauk Water works and Aspirin Gardens four years ago without proper allotment.
“We were brought over here in a lorry and told that we would get allotments later. But no one came after that. As it was raining, we entered houses that were unoccupied and have been living in them ever since,” said Lilly Antony (48), a widow who lives with her daughter and two grand children aged 1 and 3.
“After the eviction, we have been managing in our neighbours’ houses but how long can we stay with them. We have been requesting the TNSCB to consider our plight and allow us to live in our houses,” said the resident of house number 14464.
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TNSCB sources said Chennai Metrowater had purchased the houses for 1,001 allottees from the Board but these 32 families were not in the list. “Only 920 allottees came; over 80 went gone to court. CMWSSB said these 32 families had not received any allotment,” said an official.
“We have asked them to bring some kind of proof from CMWSSB that they were indeed living on their land. If they do so, we can let them go back to their houses,” the official added.