Chintadripet resident moves HC against eviction of 700 families

CHENNAI: A day after the authorities commenced the eviction process of over 700 families at Navalar Nedunchezhiyan Nagar in Chintadripet, a resident of the area has moved the Madras high court seeking to restrain the authorities from evicting them without providing alternate accommodation.

S Sreenivasan, an auto driver, wanted the court to direct Greater Chennai Corporation not to evict them unless they are provided with alternative accommodation and all necessary steps are taken to ensure proper education to the children of the residents when they are relocated elsewhere.

Admitting the PIL which was moved as lunch motion on urgent basis, the first bench of Chief Justice V K Tahilramani and Justice M Duraiswamy directed the authorities to file a detailed report on the steps taken for their rehabilitation by December 11.

According to the petitioner, the Navalar Nedunchezhiyan Nagar came into existence in 1940 when their fore-fathers, who did odd jobs in the vicinity, started settling in the area. At present, there are around 700 families living in the area and most of them are daily wage workers dependent on the jobs available in and around the area.

“There are around 400 school going children in the area, out of which 53 are to write board exams this year,” he added.

Claiming that the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board which is duty bound to improve the conditions of our environment is being apathetic to their woes, the petitioner said, though several announcements were made promising proper houses nothing has materialised till date.

While so, on November 26, corporation officials visited our area and orally announced that the eviction of our houses would commence soon. Two days later, they arrived with earth movers and started demolishing our houses from entry point into the slum.

They also disconnected electricity connections to the houses before demolition. So far, over 50 houses in two rows have been razed, he added.