Kancheepuram Collector P Ponniah orders demolition of buildings on water bodies

Chennai: In a major step towards retrieving the water bodies and to prevent flooding in south Chennai, Kancheepuram collector P. Ponniah on Tuesday served demolition notices on 186 illegal buildings that had been constructed obstructing the natural flow of storm water in Mudichur. The direction by the collector comes in the wake of chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami's recent statement that the state would not hesitate to demolish buildings constructed on water bodies and their channels.

“The demolition was already mooted during 2015, but it was put on hold due to political pressure, but now there is no other option, other than clearing the buildings. As per the collector order, the residents can submit documents to defend their case till November 9, the demolition process is likely to be carried out after that”, said a revenue official in Kancheepuram. Further the Madras High court had also passed orders to demolish buildings that has come up along the waterways and nodal officer P. Amudha had also given the blueprint to go ahead the demolition drive. The enumeration task of identifying structures that needs to be razed down will be completed in 10 days and those coming under below poverty line are likely to get alternate shelters through slum clearance board, the official said.

At present notices are served only in Varadarajapuram area and a similar exercise will be carried out in other flood prone areas like Guduvanchery, Perungalathur, Madippakkam, Mannivakkam, Narayanapuram and Semmenchery. “The Chief Minister has given instructions to clear the structures that affects water inflow in to lakes and we are looking at long term solutions and there are also plans to acquire lands to enhance catchment areas”, said K. Satyagopal, commissioner of revenue administration and state disaster management.