The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) took decisive action on Tuesday, demolishing nine buildings that had encroached upon a vital 0.2-acre pond in Manapakkam. The demolition was carried out by a large contingent of GCC officials and machinery, following a Madras High Court order to remove encroachments on the water body. This action was triggered by a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in April 2023, highlighting the illegal construction on the pond land.
The revenue department, in its September 2023 report, confirmed that the nine buildings were situated on survey number 231, the same as the pond, which belonged to the GCC. Following this, the civic body issued eviction notices to the encroachers in October 2023. Despite these notices, the encroachments remained in place until the recent demolition.
When GCC officials arrived at the site with police protection on Tuesday, some encroachers attempted to obtain a stay order, claiming they had patta (land ownership documents) for their land with different survey numbers. The court then directed the corporation to re-survey the land. After a thorough re-survey, the GCC confirmed that all nine buildings were indeed encroaching upon the pond. Five buildings were completely demolished, while beams remained for the rest, which are scheduled for demolition by Wednesday morning. The debris from the demolition was collected in a lorry and transported to a community hall, before being moved to a designated dump yard.
The operation involved a significant force, with 75 GCC workers, 12 policemen, two excavators, and two lorries deployed for the task. Looking ahead, the GCC plans to expand the pond to its original size of 0.7 acres, transforming it into a recreational space for residents. The project will also contribute to rainwater recharge, enhancing the overall ecological balance of the area. The city’s commitment to reclaiming public spaces and ensuring their proper utilization is clearly reflected in this significant action.
