Thiruvanmiyur resident R.Ayyanar, Founder of Jeevajyothi Foundation, has submitted multiple petitions with the Greater Chennai Corporation to remove encroachments on the bank of Buckingham Canal in the past two months, but is still awaiting action on it.
The petition informs about the construction of a building near the Canal’s wall at Ranganathapuram, Thiruvanmiyur, the information of which was shared with the Executive Engineer / Zonal Office of Zone 13 and the GCC Commissioner on May 10 and June 8 respectively. “Despite the court categorically instructing the administrative bodies to take action on encroachments along water bodies, there has been no action on my petition,” says Ayyanar.
Ayyanar also pointed out that the construction was hampering the natural flow of water into the canal, thus leading to the stagnation of water in the locality. “This was not the case previously when there was no construction,” he says.
Ayyannar looks for immediate action on the encroachments not only as a resolution to the civic issues but also because encroachment is illegal. “If the GCC doesn’t take action on this, more such encroachments will crop up. What will happen once whole buildings come up? What examples are being set?” he wonders.
