Students living along Cooum unwilling to relocate

More than 1,000 students pursuing higher education from slums are likely to be affected by the resettlement plan. The Chennai Corporation has started collecting information to assist them.

On Saturday, the Corporation started demolishing homes along the Cooum in Arumbakkam.

V. Vignesh, a resident, said he was unwilling to move to Perumbakkam. “The officials forced us to shift. I was born in this neighbourhood. I am a second year student of Loyola College. I received admission under the sports quota and I have to reach my college at 6 a.m. for sports practice every day. From Perumbakkam, I will not be able to reach my college on time.”

“The new housing facility does not seem to have access to hospitals and sources of livelihood. My parents will not be able to get wages in such a locality. My sister is a student of D.G. Vaishnav College. She will also find it difficult to reach college on time,” said Mr. Vignesh.

Officials said they were planning to make transport arrangements from Perumbakkam to each of the colleges with support from the MTC.

Corporation school teachers were found collecting information on students of schools and colleges from the neighbourhood on Saturday. “We will try to help the students. The government will take a decision,” said an official.

Waiting for a house

Several residents alleged that they did not get accommodation even after their biometric information was captured.

S. Jayabalan, a resident of NSK Nagar, Fifth Street, Arumbakkam, was found requesting officials of the Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board for alternative housing on Saturday. “My house is on the bank of the Cooum. The officials have already taken my photograph. All my neighbours have shifted. But I have not been given a new house,” he said.

Mr. Jayabalan, who has difficulty in walking owing to an accident, opted to stay in the house. Corporation officials have assured him that power supply would continue till he gets a new home.

Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner (Works) Mantri Govinda Rao visited the locality, directing officials to help the affected residents.

N. Chandra Sekar, another resident, said some of his neighbours had not been allotted alternative housing in Perumbakkam.