Will this be the final action on encroachments?

While most experts have claimed over the last week that the havoc caused by the rain related flood in Chennai was due to water bodies being encroached upon heavily, it is a moot question whether action to remove encroachments is possible.

Union rural development minister Venkaiah Naidu during his recent Chennai visit called for removal of encroachments and underlined the fact that now was the right time to do so. But action on the field is another matter. It is understood that most real estate firms have political connections which facilitate getting various clearances from the state government. Here party lines are blurred as only money talks. “Such talk always surfaces when floods occur and homes are inundated,” says Prem of Vyasarpadi. “But what action was taken all these years, though Vyasarpadi is flood prone even during minor rain?” he asks.

Action, if it is to work has to be taken immediately. This was witnessed in Trichy a decade ago, when floods inundated the city. The then collector K. Murthy took immediate action to clear encroachments, leading from the front helped by scores of the affected. The group using crowbars, pick axes and mechanised excavators was partly successful in knocking down encroachments blocking free flow of water. Threats by encroachers including an MDMK big wig remained mere verbal histrionics and nothing more.

In the present case, with officials and ruling party men being conspicuous by their absence at the height of the floods, a golden chance was lost to clear this menace. Also with elections only months away, whether the state government will chance alienating the poorer sections through such a move is a question. As they are the major encroachers. They are a powerful vote bank as against the complainants who are from the middle/ upper middle class and who generally refrain from voting.

A PWD official seeking anonymity said, “Encroachment removal was not a big issue, if the court and media are supportive. It should be treated as a public interest issue. With the CM stating that 50,000 people living on the banks of the Adyar and Cooum rivers and Buckingham canal had been identified, they should be given alternate housing by the State slum clearance board. The boundaries of the rivers should be demarcated and announcements be made every month to ensure that new encroachments did not spring up, while existing encroachers understood they were on government land.”

Sampath of Chintadripet said, “Why should we move? Even if the state government provides houses, it will be far from our work spot. So moving from here is not possible.” Asked about the devastation due to the flooding, he adds philosophically, “It is part of life. My fate. What can I do?”

With the same refrain also cropping up in Cuddalore district, the government may soon have to opt for damage control measures if loss of life is to be avoided in natural calamities in the future.