A view of encroachment removing by Tambaram Corporation in Anakaputhur of Adyar river on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

After several years of delay, the removal of encroachments along the Adyar River in Anakaputhur has finally begun.

In a massive operation to remove nearly 600 concrete houses, the Tambaram Corporation has started the eviction drive on Tuesday. The demolition of several houses in Anakaputhur, which is being carried out as part of flood prevention measures, started after the residents were provided with tokens for the shifting to new houses which have been built. 

A senior official of the Tambaram Corporation said a total of 593 unauthorised houses constructed along the Adyar river have been identified as part of this demolition drive being carried out in Chamundeswari Nagar covering Kattabomman Street and Nethaji Nagar located in Anakaputhur. As part of the demolition drive, a huge posse of police personnel along with senior officials of the Corporation led by Commissioner S. Balachander and revenue officials were present at the site to inspect the demolition drive at the Anakaputhur bus stand and to prevent any untoward incidents. 

The eviction drive comes in the wake of the High Court of Madras ordering the removal of encroachments in water bodies though the residents had approached the Court nearly nine times. As part of the shifting of the residents whose houses are being demolished, houses have been constructed in two places of Keerapakkam and Thailavaram. A total of 10,347 houses which had been constructed along the Adyar river were identified for demolition of which 4,575 have been removed, said officials. 

In the present demolition drive, nearly 600 houses have been identified out of which 20 families have vacated after being provided with tokens on Tuesday. The demolition of concrete buildings along the Adyar river in Anakaputhur is expected to be completed in a fortnight, an official said.