Families of three wards to boycott polls over delay in transfer of forest land

They claimed that since their houses are located in the forest land, they are unable to sell or even mortgage their property. Jeeva Street, Anna street, Zaheer Hussain Street come under the 5,6 and 7th wards of the Tambaram municipality. The area was mentioned as reserved forest as per the government records but residents claim they have been living there for several decades.

According to sources, in 1955, the Tamil Nadu government passed a GO that that the stretch of forest land be transferred to the Revenue Department.According to municipal sources, the Government Order which was passed is pending for more than 60 years. On many an occasion, the municipality had sent a reminder to the Kancheepuram district administration regarding the issue but no action was taken.

During every election in the past, the residents did not allow any of the candidates inside their area to canvassing due to this reason. Now they have all decided not to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and would not support any party until their problem was resolved.

MK Nagoorkani, a former councillor from the locality said, "Since 1955 we have been protesting for the transfer of land to the Revenue Department and we have also given reminder letters to the Department from the municipality, yet no action is being taken."

A local woman’s wedding got cancelled last minute after the groom’s family came to know that the house is forest land and it doesn't belong to them, he added.

The Tambaram Forest Ranger R Vidhyapathi said, "The land belongs to us as per our records. Though government passed the GO, we have not got any update regarding the transfer after that. The issue can now be solved only by the higher officials.”