Chennai: PWD has issued an eviction notification to the owner of 250 houses built on three branch channels of the Chembarambakkam reservoir in Mangadu Village after being found that the blocking of the channel causes flooding during the rain.
A senior PWD official said Yaytimal 7-km long, the main channel, and three branch channels were created 50 years ago for irrigation.
Furthermore, with reduced irrigation areas, they began to be used as storm water flowing through which excess water from the reservoir went to the Adyar River.
Nearly two decades ago, some houses appeared on branch channels, most of them concrete structures and some with terraces covered with tin sheets.
“We have identified encroachment on the three branch channels.
Usually, when the eviction notification is issued, the time given to violators is 21 days.
When encroachment is identified in the body of the water, according to the 2005 Disaster Management Action the days provided for eviction will be less than three Sunday, “said the official.
Srinivasa Nagar, Janani Nagar, Selva Ganagarhy Nagar, Appavu Nagar, Om Sakshi Nagar and Ambal Balaji Nagar in Mangadu is a housing colony that has penetrated the channel, with a new layout made.
Some residents told PWD officials that they had bought a plot of local politicians.
Now, the residents are in trouble because they buy land without verifying the classification, the official said.
Last month, when heavy rains attacked the city and suburbs, almost all of these areas were flooded.
When the authority of the income department wants to visit the area and evacuate residents, they must travel by boat.
Even until last week, a piece of water was found in many roads in this residential area, the official said.
Now, with the help of district administration, the PWD authority hopes to expel people.