More time sought to clear 194 houses from lake in Avadi
Chennai: Tiruvallur district administration has sought more time from
National Green Tribunal
(NGT) to complete the eviction of 194 residential encroachments on Vilinjiyambakkam lake in Avadi, citing ongoing resettlement processes.
In a detailed status report filed before Southern Zone bench, district collector M Prathap said while 79 encroachments — including 30 commercial structures and 49 houses — were already removed, full eviction is pending as authorities are working on rehabilitating remaining families either in TNUHDB tenements or through allocation of alternative land.
The collector's report was filed in response to earlier NGT directions in Aug 2024 and March 2025, when the tribunal took stock of encroachments identified and notices issued to 350 individuals under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007.
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The report detailed action taken across multiple survey numbers covering around 0.24 hectares of lake and inlet area, including the demolitions of tin-roofed and cement houses.
This is the latest development in a case that dates back to 2021, when the NGT first intervened after receiving complaints about the steady shrinkage of the 100-acre lake, once a key groundwater source for Avadi and surrounding areas.
The lake, located along the Chennai–Tiruvallur High Road, saw widespread encroachment and poor maintenance by the PWD.
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A joint committee formed by the tribunal confirmed sewage discharge into the surplus channel from adjacent residential colonies.
Despite directions issued as early as Feb 2022 to fix illegal sewage discharge from the encroachments, action was slow due to resistance from residents and delay by revenue officials in issuing Form III notices. With state elections approaching, little headway is likely in the coming months.
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