Madras HC: Report on resettling families along Coovum to be submitted

The vacation division bench comprising Justice V Parthiban and Justice PD Audikesavalu before whom a miscellaneous petition seeking to restrain the authorities from evicting the slum dwellers along Coovum without providing an effective alternate, said, “In view of the apprehension and also in order to verify the correctness of the implementation of the scheme and contents of the status report, this court is of the considered view that an advocate commissioner may be appointed to oversee effective implementation of the scheme in its letter and spirit of the project.

In view of the above K Elango is appointed as advocate commissioner.” The bench on posting the case for further hearing to June 21 directed the commissioner to inspect the areas covered under the scheme and submit a detailed report on or before June 18.

During the hearing, the special Government Pleader submitted that the status report filed on behalf of slum clearance board is a complete package for resettlement and rehabilitation of the family of encroached habitation along the banks of Coovum river.

However, V Prakash. senior counsel for petitioner expressed apprehension of the correctness of the implementation of the scheme of integrated Coovum river

eco-restoration project and the content of the status report.

The matter relates to a PIL from one R Leelavathy of Purasaivakkam, Secretary of “Pennurimai Iyakkam” seeking a direction from the Court to the State to rehabilitate the slum dwellers of 36 places including NSK Nagar, Indira Gandhi Nagar and Pallavan Nagar residing in the banks of Cooum River who are under threat of removal.