Thiruvananthapuram: The district collector on Friday served eviction notices on various encroachments in Chalai region which had been constructed over drains, as part of ‘Operation Anantha’ – the intensive demolition drive launched by the authorities to recover existing drainage networks in the state capital.
The authorities are also planning to evict all street vendors from Killipalam –Attakulangara stretch and Killipalam – Chalai Bazar Road as part of the drive.
Collector Biju Prab-hakar visited Ruby Nagar in Chalai and served notices under the disaster management act on various commercial and residential buildings.
All these illegal structures would be demolished on Saturday. A senior official associated with the drive said that as many as 100 to 150 structures would be knocked down this weekend. Several encroachments at Chalai Marakkada to Erumakkuzhy would be demolished.
The drainage network inside the Chalai Market area has been encroached by traders and the district collector is gearing up to convene a meeting with traders to finalise the plan.
Drains on both sides of the Bazar Road have been encroached and traders have constructed stairs and concrete slabs over the drain which has to be removed ahead of the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the construction of the drain at Pazhavangadi Temple reached its final phase while eviction and dredging work of the drain continued at Aryasala region.
“We have cleared the drainage stretch from Tamil UP School to Attakulangara Bypass. The heavy concrete platforms constructed by private parties were knocked down using a hydraulic jack hammer,” said the official.
The works that would be taken up immediately includes revival of the drains from SS Kovil Road to Sreekumar Theatre and Attakulangara Central School to Putharikandam Maidan.
The other priority work includes clearing of encroachments at Edappazhinji in Vazhuthacaud. Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has given an ultimatum to various departments to finish a slew of works including dredging, demolition.
