BJP's Karu Nagarajan asked the DMK government to focus on demolishing places like Koyambedu market and Phoenix mall - which were also allegedly built on lakes - instead of targeting Jaganathapuram residents.
Published Nov 25, 2024 | 2:39 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 10:45 AM
Residents at Velachery's Jaganathapuram continue to fight being displaced
Hundreds of residents took to the streets in Sasinagar of Chennai on Monday, 25 November to protest the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)’s decision to conduct a bio-metric survey to remove alleged encroachments on the Velachery lake.
Officials with the GCC and Water Resources Department have been conducting bio-metric surveys for the last week in Velachery. The plan is to conduct an eviction drive to remove suspected encroachers on the lake, after which the expansion of Velachery Lake is expected to be undertaken.
Even while the survey is almost over in Sasinagar and Gandhi Nagar areas, residents of Jaganathapuram, Rajalakshmi Nagar, Sasinagar, and Gandhinagar protested when officials visited on 22 November. So, the survey was postponed to 25 November.
On Monday, when officials were expected to conduct the survey, the residents — largely women — launched a full-fledged protest. As the protest gained momentum, they were joined by students from the locality, seeking justice.
The protesters, who are mostly daily wage workers and from the unorganised sector, were seen chanting slogans and raising banners against the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, asking “Is it fair to deprive us of our livelihood?”
One of the protesters drew a comparison to how people once living in the slums near the Adyar and Cooum river were relocated to Perumbakkam and the struggles they continue to deal with even today.
Relocated 30 km away from the city, these people face difficulty gaining access to even basic essentials or transport after almost a decade since being moved. Referring to their plight, Jaganathapuram residents asked why would they be willing to suffer a similar fate.
The protesting residents were also joined by several BJP leaders including Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Karu Nagarajan, leaders from DMDK and human rights activist and founder of the 17 May movement, Thirumurugan Gandhi.
Speaking to reporters after extending support to the protesting Jaganathapuram residents, Nagarajan criticised the DMK government’s double standards for trying to evict underprivileged people.
He charged that the eviction notice is only a tactic to ensure that people vote for DMK in the Assembly elections set to take place in 2026.
“They just want to threaten you into voting for them. If encroachment is really a concern why would the government not act on areas that have been encroached?” asked Nagarajan referring to the 100 feet road that was allegedly built over a lake.
“How is it fair to uproot the lives of hundreds of residents in Jaganathapuram, who have lived here for over four decades at least and paid relevant taxes?” asked the BJP leader who also insisted that the DMK should focus on demolishing places like the Koyambedu market and Valluvar Kottam in the first place.
#TamilNadu: Residents of Jaganathapuram in Velachery staged a protest against a biometric survey by the Water Resources Department and @chennaicorp aimed at identifying encroachments on Velachery Lake. The survey, part of an eviction drive to restore the lake’s water-holding… pic.twitter.com/fi5Ts7smXl
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) November 25, 2024
Pointing to the roughly three-acre lake being constructed in Chennai race course, he asked why couldn’t a bigger lake — expanding about 100 acres or so — be constructed there.
Meanwhile, founder of the 17 May movement and human rights activist Thirumuragan Gandhi asked people to stay united in their protest against the Tamil Nadu government’s decision.
While clarifying that he was not in support of any political party, the activist said, “We are here to extend our support to the protesting residents and make sure that not a single house in Jaganathapuram is demolished.”
Citing previous instances of the DMK government’s eviction drives, Thirumurugan explained that it had taken place in at least 20 localities.
He explained that, even if one resident gives up the protest or receives tokens from people in power, the momentum of the entire protest will be lost and their houses will be demolished.
The protest in Jaganathapuram underscores growing discontent over the Tamil Nadu government’s eviction plans and its handling of encroachment issues. As tensions rise, residents and activists alike are determined to stand firm in their fight to protect their homes and livelihoods.
(Edited by Neena)
