CHENNAI: Hundreds of residents from Jaganathapuram in Velachery staged a protest as officials from the Water Resources Department and Greater Chennai Corporation arrived on Friday to conduct a biometric survey to remove alleged encroachments on the Velachery lake. The survey was postponed to November 25 following the protest, residents said.
The lake, which once covered 265 acres, is now spread across just 55 acres. The reduction in size of the lake over the years due to encroachments has affected the lake’s water-holding capacity, leading to frequent flooding in surrounding areas during rain.
Officials have been conducting biometric enumeration over the past four days to identify suspected encroachers for the eviction drive which is intended to expand the lake and reinforce its bund.
The survey is almost over in Sasi Nagar and Gandhi Nagar.
Residents of Jaganathapuram, however, argue that they are being unfairly targeted.
While the lake has shrunk due to both legal and illegal encroachments, they question why their homes on the bund have been chosen for eviction, especially when other big encroachments are not removed. They also claim to have received “enjoyment certificates” issued by the Chennai collector in 2007, legitimising their occupancy.
S Premkumar, a resident of Jaganathapuram, said his family has lived in the area for over 60 years, even when the lake was at its original size. He expressed concern over the impact the eviction would have on their livelihoods.
“Many of us are now seeing first-generation graduates in our families. If we are evicted and relocated, it will severely impact their education, our stability, and our future.”
He noted that the government had provided them with basic amenities like water, sewage, roads, and streetlights, and had even levied property taxes.
R Velmurugan, district secretary of South Chennai CPM, said, “The case is still under judicial review. If the government is genuinely committed to removing all encroachments, including malls, government buildings, and private firms that have come up on the lake, it is acceptable.
If not, the officials should consider constructing a compound wall without displacing these residents.” Velachery MLA JMH Aassan Maulaana (Congress) said, “The enumeration process has been cancelled today as it was initiated without the knowledge of elected representatives.”