CHENNAI: Over six months after the evictions at Choolaimedu here, at least 50 families are still left in the lurch without allotment orders. In November last year, 260 families were evicted from amachivayapuram at Choolaimedu and resettled to the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board apartments at Perumbakkam as part of the Cooum River Restoration project.
Later, 121 families claimed to have been left out in the original drive. However, merely 41 families — 21 from West Namachivayapuram and 20 from East Namachivayapuram, out of the 121, received allotment orders last week, it is reliably learnt.
Following the original drive, an enumeration was done especially for the 121 families who were said to be left out. However, while enumeration is usually done before their homes in order to ensure that they have houses in the said area, the enumeration for these families was carried out in common spaces like local schools because by then, their homes had already been demolished.
“The officials now say that we have not had houses here, whereas we have been living here for over 25 years and also have all original documents to support our claim,” said M Annapoorani, a housewife, whose husband Manikandan is an electrician.
“Now, since our houses have already been demolished, there is no way to prove that we used to live here other than through documents, which they are not accepting,” she added.
Others who are said to have been left out, including Karnan Jayarani, Govindammal K and Palayam P displayed copies of their family cards, with addresses registered in the said area.
Said Vedapriya K, “Now, my entire family is staying with my elderly mother who won’t be able to take care of us much longer.”
When contacted, a corporation official in the zonal level said the enumeration was done following due process.
PWD officials said under the Cooum Restoration scheme, provision for only one allotment per structure was available.
“When we conducted enumerations, people from nearby areas also began participating so the numbers may vary,” an official said.