Times of India: Chennai: Friday, 20 May 2022.
Despite a strongly worded direction from the Madras High Court to remove encroachments at the Chitlapakkam lake located in the city’s suburbs, the Water Resources Department has been sleeping on it.
According to an RTI reply from the department accessed by TOI, only 74 out of the 403 encroachments have been removed as of now. These 74 encroachments were removed on January 28 and 29. The HC had warned that it would summon the chief secretary if no action was taken on its direction.
However, the department seems to have completely forgotten the HC order and has moved on. Contrary to the RTI response, the department, in a PIL case filed by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam in March, had submitted before the high court that all encroachments were removed.
After the RTI revelation, activists have slammed the department for lying to the court which led to closure of the case itself.
“They told the court in March that all encroachments were removed and the case was closed. Later on, they filed an affidavit saying an inadvertent error occurred,” said activist David Manohar of Arappor Iyakkam.
When queried that the encroachment drive has not taken place since January end, WRD assistant executive engineer Venkatesan said they were working on the resettlement process with the urban habitat development board. “We will continue the drive soon,” he said.
Local sources however said there was stiff resistance from encroachers, coupled with political support, and that’s why the PWD was not able to remove the encroachment. “How will the WRD utilise the allotted 25 crore for lake restoration, without removing the encroachments,” questioned Manohar.
Despite a strongly worded direction from the Madras High Court to remove encroachments at the Chitlapakkam lake located in the city’s suburbs, the Water Resources Department has been sleeping on it.
According to an RTI reply from the department accessed by TOI, only 74 out of the 403 encroachments have been removed as of now. These 74 encroachments were removed on January 28 and 29. The HC had warned that it would summon the chief secretary if no action was taken on its direction.
However, the department seems to have completely forgotten the HC order and has moved on. Contrary to the RTI response, the department, in a PIL case filed by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam in March, had submitted before the high court that all encroachments were removed.
After the RTI revelation, activists have slammed the department for lying to the court which led to closure of the case itself.
“They told the court in March that all encroachments were removed and the case was closed. Later on, they filed an affidavit saying an inadvertent error occurred,” said activist David Manohar of Arappor Iyakkam.
When queried that the encroachment drive has not taken place since January end, WRD assistant executive engineer Venkatesan said they were working on the resettlement process with the urban habitat development board. “We will continue the drive soon,” he said.
Local sources however said there was stiff resistance from encroachers, coupled with political support, and that’s why the PWD was not able to remove the encroachment. “How will the WRD utilise the allotted 25 crore for lake restoration, without removing the encroachments,” questioned Manohar.
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