“As a regular inspection, the civic body had removed loose structures such as concrete ramps, plastic additions and other edifices that are encroaching the road space and blocking the storm water drain in the locality. 

Confirming that 30-40 structures were removed, a senior Corporation official added, “Out of these, close to ten were petty shops and the rest were structures that have taken up road space. This is a part of our regular inspection and sometimes, we also act based on complaints from the residents.” The ramp of a hospital was also removed. Residents had stated that the structures were encroaching upon the storm water drains, which had resulted in severe flooding in the region. 

According to the locals, even a short spell of rain would inundate the road and there have been several complaints from Corporation workers, highlighting the difficulty in clearing these structures. A few days ago, an encroachment was removed in Velachery. 

S Kumararaja, general secretary of the Federation of Velachery Residents Welfare Associations, said, “The Corporation canal which runs between Perungudi Railway Station and Velachery Railway Station was encroached by a compound wall. Corporation officials removed 200-feet of the encroachment but there are many similar illegal structures springing up on land belonging to the Revenue Department, surrounding the canal, which are yet to be removed.”