Hoping for a divine intervention

Facing relocation, Padi Kuppam residents pray for houses in Athipattu and not Perumbakkam

The residents of Angala Parameswari Temple street in Padi Kuppam, Koyambedu have been holding prayer meetings every night at their local temple. The 300-odd families from the locality, most of whom are vendors at the Koyambedu market, will soon be evicted by the Greater Chennai Corporation as part of the Cooum River Eco-restoration Project. The residents will be moved reportedly to the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) tenements in Perumbakkam, where they do not wish to go. “We have tried all means to get a house nearby, but nothing has worked so far. We hope at least our prayers will be heard,” said E. Kamakshi, a vegetable vendor.

“We work at the Koyambedu market, which is just a few minutes away. If we are moved 35 km away to Perumbakkam, we will all lose our jobs,” said Kamakshi. To highlight their plight, the residents have written to the higher authorities in the State including the Chief Minister’s Office and TNSCB, and are awaiting a reply.

Families in their petitions, have requested that they be relocated to the newly constructed tenements at Athipattu in Thiruvallur district. The Board has constructed 1,472 houses of which around 400 have been allotted to residents from Kakkanji Nagar, New Avadi Road.

The families claim that these houses are nearer to their workplaces and their children’s schools.

However, officials from TNSCB said that discussions are under way with the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust and that the residents will be informed about the decision soon.

‘No prior information’

The residents further alleged that the Corporation officials did not hold any public meeting on their eviction and relocation.

“They should have informed us three months ago, but we were informed only recently. How can we leave everything behind now?” said D. Anitha another resident who sells greens at the Koyambedu market. “We are not against the relocation, but we want our plea to be considered. We want a house in Athipattu and not Perumbakkam,” she said.

D. Jagadeeshwaran, an activist added that it was unfair to relocate families while most of their children are in midst of their exams. “The State must understand their plight and take decisions in a phased manner. It is unfair to ask them to oblige and leave so unexpectedly,” he said.