PWD urged to clear Porur lake of encroachments

“At a time when the lake was a wasteland and there was no monitoring, the encroachments were regular in the locality. Several homes had come up encroaching the lake area around 15 years ago. Some anonymous persons even sold encroached land for around Rs 10 lakh per plot. After complaining to the authorities concerned, they came and inspected the site six months ago. Recently, they came and asked the residents to vacate their homes,” said Veeramani Sekar, a resident of Porur.

Locals pointed out that several of these homes have been given power connections by Tangedco illegally without checking the documents. Some of the families who had encroached the water body said they have sought relocation. “Recently, when the officials visited the place, they asked us to vacate from this place. We have been here for 12 years. Suddenly they are giving us notice to vacate from the place and have allotted us place somewhere near Semmancheri and Perumbakkam. We asked for a place nearby, but they are refusing. Though we opposed giving the details of the family, they said that our houses will be removed as it is a court order,” said Nagesh Babu, another resident.

However, PWD officials said they have filed a case in the court and once the judgment is passed the encroachments will be removed. PWD Executive Engineer Radhakrishnan said, “The residents are asking for an alternative place in the same locality, which we cannot provide. So, they have filed a case in the high court. Once the judgement is passed, we will start clearing the encroachments.”