Chennai: K.K.
Nagar which has been suffering from encroachments got a little respite
as the Chennai corporation cleared on Tuesday, encroachments eating up
the roadsides of the Anna main road for years.

Groups
of contractors who sold raw materials for buildings like sand, bricks
and blue metal for around 30 years were finally evicted from the place,
which is expected to be converted into a service road.

“Around
26 contractors were occupying the roadsides before  metro water office
at Nessapakkam. They occupied nearly 300 meters of the road,” said a
police officer.

“The eviction drive  started in the morning and
all the labourers and contractors were sent out,” he added. While 
contractors have been moved out, labourers will suffer as they have no
other place to live in.

“I have been living here and working for around 30 years. Where will I go now?” asks Kannamal (name changed), a labourer.

The
cleared roads which are now wide, will soon have service lanes to ease
traffic. “A service road is expected to be laid in addition to the
existing two lanes. The new lane will connect to the Eri Karai road
which usually gets choked with traffic every morning,” said a field
official.

“Similar drives will continue on Anna main road,
Munuswamy Salai, Raja Mannar Salai and Alagiri Salai where new pavements
are proposed to be laid,” said ward 137 councillor C. Subramani.

“The
encroachments removed on Tuesday followed several complaints from local
residents and the roadside will be fenced to prevent the encroachers
from reappearing,” he added.