Eviction of encroachments in waterbodies in Chennai and suburbs likely to start soon

Eviction of land encroachments in Chennai water bodies to resume after crucial committee meeting on Wednesday.

Eviction of land encroachments in water bodies and other highly objectionable poromboke lands is set to resume in Chennai and suburban areas as the State Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary is set to meet on Wednesday (December 3, 2024) to review the overall progress of eviction of such encroachments during this Northeast monsoon. 

After the State government constituted the State Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to monitor the eviction of encroachments in water bodies, the crucial meeting was not held ahead of the onset of the Northeast monsoon this year in October owing to administrative reasons. Following the meeting scheduled on Wednesday, the committee will focus on compliance of court orders pertaining to eviction of encroachments in water bodies to prevent flooding of several parts of Chennai, suburban areas and other parts of the State. 

Many buildings including residential apartments, hospitals and commercial buildings have already been identified in water bodies and highly objectionable poromboke lands in many zones of Chennai and other local bodies of the State. For instance, Chennai District Administration has already identified many encroachments in water bodies and highly objectionable poromboke lands in areas such as Velachery, Taramani, Sholinganallur and Valasaravakkam following a drive by Chennai Corporation to restore water bodies. Chennai Corporation has undertaken a comprehensive restoration and development initiative to rehabilitate several key water bodies in south Chennai. Aimed at reducing flood risks during the Northeast monsoon, this large-scale project covers multiple ponds, lakes, and marshes, and includes excavation, deepening, and revitalisation work to create long-term flood management solutions while improving urban infrastructure and public spaces.

GCC has already deployed machinery to desilt a six-vent culvert, both at road and railway portions in the vicinity of Velachery and Taramani MRTS, to ensure a smooth flow of stormwater into Pallikaranai Marshland. During a site inspection, GCC officials identified a large, government owned parcel of land near the culvert, and earmarked them for additional water storage and flood control. Encroachments were discovered in this government land. Temporary structures occupying an area of 13,800 square metres along the road were removed by the corporation, making way for the development of a new waterbody.

Chennai Collector’s Revenue team conducted a comprehensive survey of the area. During this survey, several permanent encroachments such as apartment buildings, private hospitals, and clinics were identified beyond the 13,800 square metres where the pond excavation work was implemented. Based on the findings, the GCC intends to issue notices to the permanent structures via the revenue department, followed by lawful eviction. Similarly, water bodies such as Singaperumal Koil Lake have also reduced in size because of encroachments such as hotels and hospitals on GST Road. But eviction of encroachments were not carried out owing to a delay in holding a meeting of the committee constituted by the State government during this monsoon. Once the committee takes a decision this week, the work on eviction of encroachments is expected to begin.

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