Canal encroachments will be removed: Corporation

The Madras High Court is aware of the situation with regard to encroachments over the Vadapalani Kavangarai canal, which has turned out to be a bone of contention between the PWD and the Corporation of Chennai.

When the plea came up for hearing before the division bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam, the PWD submitted that the canal fell under the purview of the Chennai Corporation and that they have been informed about the earlier court order pending in this regard.

It also sought the bench to modify the order of another division bench, which on February 12, had directed PWD to file a status report with details including sketch by February 20. The PWD tendered unconditional apology for not filing the counter affidavit and informed the court that the necessary party was the City Corporation.

Recording the submission as well as that of the corporation that the encroachments would be removed, the bench adjourned the case to June 4.

G Deva, President, Vadapalani and Kulakkarai Residents Public Welfare Association had submitted that the canal,which was originally formed as part of Virugambakkam drain development plan, was ignored by the government,resulting in residential blocks being built on the 2345 sqft land in Thirunagar that was acquired for the formation of Virugambakkam drain.

Though the MMDA special tahsildar gave representation to the PWD in 1992 to remove the encroachment, no action was taken on the petition, resulting in people falling prey during the heavy rain in 2005 as well as in 2015, the petitioner said.

Noting that it took almost 15 days to drain the water that had filled up the 100 feet Road, he sought the court to direct the PWD to remove the encroachments.