The City Corporation, with the help State Slum Clearance Board, on Tuesday evicted and demolished encroachments that were blocking the channels leading to the Vellalore lake on bodies on Tuesday.

According to sources, 537 houses and human settlements in seven acres at Anaimedu, Cheran Nagar, Muthu Nagar and Anna Colony were demolished to clear the ‘Raja Vaikal’ (that runs about 6.5 km from Aathupalam to Vellalore) in order to clear the channel and to maintain free flow of water to the Vellalore lake.

The drive follows an order from Corporation Commissioner Dr. K. Vijayakarthikeyan. Residents whose houses were demolished have already been allotted alternate places.

Speaking to The Covai Post, Chief Coordinator of Kovai Kulangal Padhukaappu Amaippu R. Manikandan said more houses and industries have to be removed in order to prevent further damages to the channels. He thanked the district administration and the Corporation for preserving natural resources through this drive against encroachment.

“Our volunteers, numbering around 150, have been desilting and clearing Perur and Sundakkamuthur lakes periodically. We removed plastic items from the Raja. We have been doing this for the last 31 weeks,” Manikandan said.

“The authorities should not stop with this. They should maintain and build a check dam to preserve water. The channel’s shutter is in a bad condition. It was built during the British period. The channel should be strengthened and deepened further,” he added.