Coimbatore: As part of implementing Smart City projects in the city, hundreds of people living in encroached lands belonging to City Corporation and importantly those living along the bunds of water bodies are being evacuated. Alternate housing has been allotted to them at various places in the city by the Slum Clearance board.
Coimbatore: As part of implementing Smart City projects in the city, hundreds of people living in encroached lands belonging to City Corporation and importantly those living along the bunds of water bodies are being evacuated. Alternate housing has been allotted to them at various places in the city by the Slum Clearance board.
In this scenario, hundreds of residents of Kumarasamy Colony located off Thadagam road along with MP P.R. Natarajan staged an agitation on Tuesday in front of the the Slum Clearance Board office in Selvapuram.
Claiming patta for the lands they live in or patta for alternate land owned by the government within city limits, the residents along with the MP condemned the Corporation's move against forcefully evicting the people from the 'encroachments' as they have been living there for several decades.
The protest was led by MP P.R. Natarajan witnessed residents from Mutthanakulam, Kumarasamy Colony, Sanganoor Road, Shanmuga Nagar, Poosaripalayam and various other areas who have been issued notices to vacate their houses.
It is to be noted that all the residents who have been asked to vacate have been provided with apartment-style houses built by the Slum Clearnce board at Malumichampatti, Keeranatham and other areas.
Hearing upon the protest, the higher officials of Slum Clearance Board left the office. But the protestors decided to stay put in the premises until the officers returned. The protestors dispersed only after the officials promised that a formal meeting will be held on August 30, to sort out their issues.