172 illegal houses razed in Kovai

A joint team of officials from Public Works Department and Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) demolished the illegal structures built along a water channel.

The excess water during rains in Kuniamuthur and its neighbourhood used to be carried away in the channel to be discharged into river Noyyal. However, due to massive encroachments along the waterway, many residential areas got flooded during heavy rains over the last 20 years.

As many as 151 houses in Kaide Millath Colony and around 21 houses in Periasamy Street were demolished. The evicted families were relocated to slum board tenements at Arivoli Nagar in Kovaipudur.

As many of the families from encroached houses got vacated long back, there were complaints of anti-social activities taking place in the vacant houses. With complaints pouring in, the official machinery decided to demolish the illegal structures. Meanwhile, residents settled down on banks of River Noyyal, who have issued eviction notices, petitioned district Collector TN Hariharan, on Wednesday, seeking extra time. Over 150 houses built along Noyyal banks were served notices asking them to vacate within 21 days. The slum clearance board has allotted them houses in Sulur area. However, residents sought time till May as otherwise the studies of their children would be affected and claimed that the new locality has been devoid of even basic amenities.