Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122159830300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ambattur residents protest eviction

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department continued its drive to remove encroachments on the Ambattur lakebed and the surplus course on Saturday leading to protests by residents.

Tension prevailed in Sathya Nagar, Ambattur, when the department officials bulldozed some structures with the help of the Revenue Department and the police.

Sujata Mody, president, Women Workers’ Union, who participated in the residents’ demonstration, complained that the eviction drive was carried out without prior notice rendering hundreds of families homeless.

“Most of the evicted people were unorganised sector workers and living in the area for over two decades. The dislocation will take a heavy toll on their livelihood and children’s education,” she said.

Ms. Mody alleged that the residents who attempted to represent their problem to the State government were told that if they stuck to their agitation they run the risk of losing the compensation and alternative land in Morai, Avadi.

The union representatives, including Ms. Mody, were detained by the police for stopping the eviction and released later. Officials said that the residents were given prior notice about the demolition. Of 1,500 structures identified in Ambattur lake, nearly 300 had been removed till Saturday.

About 280 of the 330 encroached structures in Ayanampakkam lake were also removed.