Chennai: Velacheri being a hot bed for real estate, it is not a surprise when land grabbing and encroachments take place here.
Recently, a political party allegedly tried to erect a temporary office at a vacant plot in Dhandeeswaram; however, residents were quick to jump into action. But what has warmed the hearts of people here was the civic body’s immediate response to their grievance.
Corporation officials arrived promptly and removed the structure from the spot within an hour.
Few days ago, J Milton, a resident, saw iron poles being erected at a plot belonging to the Corporation located at Seventh Main Road.
He says, “At 4.30 pm, I saw six people erecting poles and doing some fabrication work on the vacant land next to my house. When I asked them what was being constructed, they brushed me off rudely by saying whether they were doing something on my land and so not to bother.”
Milton, who is a committee member of Tansi Nagar Welfare Association, alerted the others. Secretary of the association immediately sent a message to Muralidharan, Executive Engineer of Adyar Zone, who in turn directed Mary, Assistant Engineer, to look into the matter.
“After inspection, it was found that the party was erecting the structure illegally, and since it was a Sunday, the construction work was not going on then. Even as the J7 Velacheri police gave protection, the civic officials carried out the demolition,” Balakrishnan said.
The materials were seized and taken to the zonal office. But what surprised everyone was that the party people did not respond or question the action, said a source.
Balakrishnan says, “Encroachments are rampant near the railway station and Velacheri lake. A recent court order has asked authorities to remove them. We are waiting for the elections to wrap up to see how each party responds to the order. This time, the civic body promptly responded. The officials clearly did not want the court to pull them up for it later.”