Spurtank Road in Chetpet back in encroachers' hands
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Last year alone, they were all evicted twice by Water Resources Department and Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, which spent 735 crore on restoring the river. As part of the project, a 42-crore boundary wall was built in 2023.
Though WRD managed to clear the riverbanks and built the wall, the hawkers now occupy the pavement next to the wall. They have put up small huts and stalls along the stretch. A few people in the area have broken into the walled part of the riverbank and started using it as cowsheds, even bending the gates to enter and exit the area.
When contacted, WRD officials said it is now the responsibility of GCC to clear the encroachments from the pavement, as it falls outside WRD's boundary.
When TOI visited the area, several families were living on pavements, with many makeshift shops set up. Despite the ongoing restoration, the hawkers continue to return to this spot.
Mohammed Rafiq, a resident of Harrington Road, said: "Cattle owners have also occupied the riverbanks illegally.
We complained using the Namma Chennai app, but no action has been taken so far."
Deputy mayor M Mahesh Kumar said encroachment drives were happening and hawkers would be moved to designated vending zones. He said steps will be taken to address the stray cattle issue as well.
GCC officials said they, along with WRD, listed 14 families staying on Spurtank Road and sent details to TN Urban Habitat Development Board four months ago. But they have not received housing allotments yet. "We can remove encroachments only after houses are allotted," said an official.
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