After many years, encroachments over conduit lines that carry water from Red Hills to Kilpauk water works are being cleared.
Nearly 1,472 families in Kakkanji Nagar on New Avadi Road have been identified for relocation.
The three 10-km-long pipelines, laid at various points of time by Chennai Metrowater, are some of the first bits of infrastructure that supplied safe drinking water to the city.
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The earliest pipeline, which is still in use, was constructed of brick masonry in 1914.
However, Metrowater lands under which the second half of the pipelines run — between Villivakkam and New Avadi Road — are heavily encroached.
The eviction drive was launched as part of Metrowater’s efforts to secure the conduit lines, that carry raw water from the Red Hills reservoir to Kilpauk for treatment.
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Relocating families
Families in Kakkanji Nagar are being given alternative accommodation in Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) tenements at Athipet and Perumbakkam. Besides providing 35 lorries for transportation, the water agency was also conducting camps to change the address in Aadhaar cards and ration cards, said a press release.
Measures are also being taken to provide admissions for children in government schools.
Nearly 5.5 acres of Metrowater land, worth ₹40 crore, has been reclaimed through the drive, the release said.