CHENNAI: Over the last three weeks, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has removed 1,366 temporary encroachments and 536 permanent encroachments across all 15 zones of the corporation.
A flying squad under a zonal officer was formed in every zone to patrol city streets, pavements and other public spaces for encroachments every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The flying squads to counter encroachments were set up under former commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who is now set to take over as health secretary. The squads would identify and remove encroachments every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The highest number of encroachments - 223 temporary and 55 permanent-were removed from Adyar followed by 199 temporary encroachments in Kodambakkam and 47 permanent ones in Kodambakkam. In Anna Nagar, a total of 223 encroachments- 158 temporary and 65 permanent - have been removed.
Apart from the ongoing drive, the corporation, in a statement asked roadside encroachments to leave by themselves, failing which they will be removed by the civic body, the statement said. The corporation, however, recently received flak on social media for allowing encroachments to spring up in other nearby public spaces after being asked to vacate a particular spot.
On asked what steps are being taken on this front, a zonal corporation official said they are keeping track of removed encroachments to prevent them from setting up shop in other public spaces. The official said they will also follow up on complaints raised by residents.
The drive was also criticised in the past, by a section of the population, for being high-handed in approach, with regards to the use of heavy machinery.