185 squatters relocated from Adyar riverbank in Chennai

Chennai officials relocated 185 squatters from the Adyar riverbank in Sathya Nagar North earlier this week. The move was part of an effort to clear the area behind the Saidapet court. Among the relocated families, 100 were given tenements in Perumbakkam, located near Sholinganallur. The remaining 85 families requested housing in Kotturpuram to avoid long commutes that could affect their children's education. The Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) later agreed to this request. Construction of the new housing in Kotturpuram is ongoing and is expected to conclude in six months. While waiting for their new homes, these families will live elsewhere and pay rent. Previously, the squatters lived in makeshift homes with thatched roofs and tin sheets. All 185 temporary structures along the riverbank have now been demolished by local authorities. Despite this relocation, around 3,700 encroachers are still living across various parts of the river. Significant populations remain in areas like Annai Sathya Nagar, Mallippoo Nagar, Burma Colony, Thideer Nagar, and Anakaputhur.