The civic body officials in coordination with their counterparts from the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) and Public Works Department removed encroachments along River Noyyal and Vellalore Raja Vaikal (main canal), near Athupalam, on Tuesday.
The move has raised the hope of activists that if the canal is cleaned at once, ahead of North East Monsoon, the Vellalore tank could see good water inflow.
The officials said that after allotting houses to the residents in Anaimedu I and II, Azad Nagar, Nanjundapuram Itteri, Singanallur Kolatheri and a few other places along water bodies in May this year, the agencies concerned alerted the Anaimedu I and II residents and those near Athupalam to shift to the TNSCB tenements in Vellalore.
They also told them they would start the demolition drive after September 10 and a few days ago snapped power supply.
It was after sufficient warning they began the drive around 9 a.m. to demolish 71 houses in Anaimedu I and 276 houses in Anaimedu II. This would go on for a day or two more and be followed by demolition of houses in the above-mentioned areas.
The TNSCB had constructed over 1,400 houses in Vellalore to accommodate those living by encroaching water bodies in and around the city. This is part of the larger plan to free the water bodies of encroachments and make the city slum-free.
The residents, who have moved over to Vellalore, said though there was water and power supply, the absence of street lights, sewage facility and poor bus connectivity were troubling them.
S. Shanmuapriya, who have lived all her 38 years at Anaimedu, says that it takes more than hour for her to reach her workplace in Town Hall, something she did at ease by taking a public transport system. The first issue the authorities concerned address is bus connectivity.
Earlier, it was the work place was only three stops away but now it is several stops and a bus interchange away.
Many residents say parents of children studying in the nearby Kuniamuthur school were taking transfer certificates to the Vellalore government school as it will be impossible for them to commute to and fro everyday.
Officials say they will look into the issue.