Chennai: With northeast monsoon to set in next month, local bodies and district collectorates have been directed to clear encroachments along water bodies.
After evicting over 300 families from Cooum banks, Chennai corporation on Saturday removed encroachments from Foreshore Estate near Marina beach shifting 50 families to Perumbakkam through slum clearance board.
Tension prevailed for some time as the local residents initially resisted the eviction and they argued that their livelihood would be affected if evicted from Foreshore Estate. A few of them also hurled curses at the civic authorities who finally succeeded in evicting the encroachers.
According to city corporation sources, river banks of Adyar and Cooum are ascertained for clearing of encroachments. Post 2015 December floods more than 1,000 encroachments mostly in south Chennai were cleared but several encroachers have returned. Encroachments in Aminijikarai were cleared last week. Similar eviction drives were planned in zone 9 and 13, sources said.
In a related development, district collectors in Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri and Salem also passed orders to the revenue authorities to ensure that water bodies are free from encroachments as the lakes were filing up and also keep the evacuation centres ready in case of heavy rains and also keep sand bags ready to arrest the breach of lakes.
Dharmapuri revenue officials had also made it mandatory for the village panchayats to ensure that the coracle services and tourists are not encouraged near Hogenakkal as the Cauvery river is in spate after several months.
SW monsoon to withdraw from Sept. 28
After a two-week delay, southwest monsoon is all set to withdraw from September 28, said officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The monsoon, which starts withdrawing around September 15 from the Punjab– Rajasthan belt has been delayed this time, evident from the development of low pressure.
“Generally, the withdrawal starts around September 15 and would be completed before the fortnight of October, after which the wind direction change and emerge as North east (retreating) monsoon. The process would get delayed if a low pressure develops,” said K Srikanth, a weather blogger. He added that the withdrawal gets faster, even if the process starts late, as observed as the pattern of the southwest monsoon over the years.
However, there are rains in store for interior Tamil Nadu. “Friday saw return of thunderstorm for Tamil Nadu, albeit as a weak activity, over parts of Cuddalore, Villupuram, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts along with isolated early morning activity in delta districts on Saturday. Jayamkondam recorded 26 mm while Kudavasal in Tiruvarur district recorded 27 mm till 5:30 in the morning on Saturday,” blogged Srikanth.
However, temperature is predicted to be on the higher side in South Tamil Nadu, while rainfall in coastal districts relies on winds, which were slow.
