Confusing statements between two officials in the Irugur panchayat has delayed the recapturing process of a lane allegedly encroached by a private person at Teacher’s Street here in the city.

The public lane in the 14th ward was recently encroached and fenced off by a person named Arumugam. As he was not on good terms with the people in the area, he reportedly did not heed their plea.

“We then filed a complaint with the local authorities and asked them to measure the official length and width of the road. However, the surveyor did not measure the road on our request, but did so secretly and gave a false data,” one of the residents alleged.

They also took the matter to a senior official with the taluk office, who ordered the removal of the fence put up by Arumugam as the road was not reportedly measured.

“Meanwhile, a woman who was riding her two wheeler on this route hit the fence and was injured,” the resident claimed.

In order to clarify the confusion between the officials and so that the road is taken back, the residents filed a petition with the district administration on Monday.