Date:23/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/23/stories/2005112321100400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CPI(M) to protest against pond encroachment

Staff Reporter

TAMBARAM: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will be staging a demonstration on Wednesday to protest the encroachment of a water body in Pallavaram. The partymen said 1.44 acres of `maangani kulam,' adjacent to the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road, was fenced off by a group of persons recently and despite complaints, Revenue officials and the Kancheepuram district administration failed to take any action.

They said encroachment of government land and water bodies in this area was rampant and the pond was the latest victim. The pond was being used as a water source by residents of the area, CPI (M) members said, adding that mud dug up elsewhere was dumped in the pond to level its surface. Stating that the land cost of approved plots around the pond was about Rs. 5 lakhs a ground, the partymen said based on that, the value of the pond was about Rs. 4.5 crores. The partymen said the 1.44 acres was still mentioned as a pond in Survey No. 262 of Zamin Pallavaram.