The Tamil Nadu government is planning to rehabilitate flood-hit families living along the banks of Adyar River to slum tenements at Okkium Thoraipakkam and Perumbakkam before February 25. According to sources, a meeting was convened by the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu recently, who sought to formulate a plan of action to complete the entire eviction and resettlement process. This plan of action will be prepared by the Chennai Corporation, the Slum Clearance Board and the Public Works Department (PWD).
Since the floods, 2,460 families along the banks of Adyar River have been resettled in tenements at Okkium Thoraipakkam and Perumbakkam. Sources say 7,500 more families would have to be relocated at the two tenements within 25 days. Preparations are on to receive the influx of families. Chennai Metro Water has been asked to increase the quantum of water supply at Thoraipakkam to 5.5MLD besides taking over the water supply and sewerage network at Okkiam Thoraipakkam and All India Radio slum tenement schemes.
The government is also planning to conduct weekly review meetings to prevent encroachments along waterways. It is learnt that the Chennai Collector and the Police Commissioner would also participate in the meeting. Efforts are also on to demolish structures put up by slum dwellers along the river banks on the day they are evicted. The PWD has been to told to demolish the encroachments and fence the sites, besides safeguarding them.
“The PWD, and the surveyor of Chennai Collectorate, have been asked to demarcate the river boundary and fence it immediately,” said sources. The State Government will allot tenements only to those whose names figure in the biometric list prepared by it after conducting a survey on encroachment along water bodies. Those whose names don’t figure in the list may be considered if they have residential proof, sources said. People who don’t have residential proof, and whose names are not in the biometric list would be evicted and accommodated in temporary shelters run by the Corporation. A survey by Kancheepuram district on encroachment along the Adyar River has shown that 1,019 families encroached upon the river banks. Sources said the families are likely to be resettled in tenements at Navalur.
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