Chennai: To make way for DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin’s rally, scheduled to be held in Chengalput taluk on November 21, as part of his ongoing state-wide tour, local DMK cadres have encroached on two ‘dry’ ponds in Kattankulathur panchayat limits, filling them with soil. The local residents have complained about this to the administration.
The two ponds measuring 2.50 acres, are located in a government poromboke land in Appur village These water bodies are a good source of groundwater recharge and used by locals to promote horticulture in the area after every monsoon.
However, on October 24, a few DMK cadres have reportedly filled the ponds with soil without the knowledge of revenue officials. Based on a complaint, revenue officials rushed to the spot and found that the two ponds had disappeared.
A senior revenue official confirmed to DC that DMK party didn’t seek permission to use the government poromboke land for the rally. “We have recovered the land and directed the Block Development Officer (BDO) to file a complaint against the accused”.
When contacted, Madhusudhana, DMK party functionary in Kattankulathur, who is involved in organising Stalin’s rally, claimed that they were just deep pits posing danger to the public. “We are expecting huge crowds during the rally that is being organised in 350 acres of private land and this place is the adjacent area. Our idea was to close the pits and remove the soil once the rally was over. Some political rivals are propagating falsehood”.
However, N. Sekhar, a local resident, said they have been asking the district administration to desilt the two ponds for long, but no action was taken. Now, at least after this controversy, the officials are desilting the ponds. AIADMK leader Sampath, president of Kattankulathur panchayat union, expressed ignorance about the issue.
