Encroachments reappear

Encroachments reappear in all parts of the town after they were removed few weeks back. Encroachment eviction is greatly influenced by political powers. They is no surprise that encroachments by ruling party members are never cleared.


The photo above was taken in Padali theater road, a couple of days after the eviction drive. The first thatch roof is put on after the eviction, while the second in the picture was not even cleared. As I have written an year back trucks find it difficult to enter Padali theater road to unload goods at Panpari market because of these encroachments. This quiet often leads to traffic congestion in Lawrence Road.

It is said that the eviction drive is generally conducted once in a year. But this time it is said to have been conducted after a two years gap. Why should not we appoint an authority to keep a continuous check on the encroachments (in roads and in other public places - esp. lakes and river beds) and clear it immediately. Understanding the amount of trouble it creates in towns and cities, complaints relating to encroachment should be processed and proceeded on by this authority. The authority should be made liable if the complaints are not verified and if eviction is not carried out within a given time frame.

Uzhavar Shandy (Farmers' market)

Uzhavar Shandy is meant for the farmers to sell their produce. There was a surprise check at the farmer's shandy (opposite Seemati complex) by the District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo. Two shops not complying to the regulations and doing commercial business were ordered closure by the District Collector on 2/Sep/07.



The same day District Collector had ordered the Cuddalore Municipal Corp. for driving away the petty shop keepers encroaching the entrance of the shandy.
Although a week has passed, the Municipality is yet to take action.
Although its a No Parking Zone (see box), a lot of business activity is happening around the entrance of the shandy thus endangering the life of the road users.

Although the shandy is not meant for the vehicles to come in, its a usual sight to see two wheelers plying into the shandy.

Along with the two wheelers the three wheeler (Auto) makes its presence felt.
Will the District Administration take further steps in making the shandy a comfortable place for the people to purchase the fresh produce of the farmers??

Dreamproject coming true

Kammianpet shows visible development within a year of completion of the link bridge connecting Semandalam. There are abundance vacant spaces in this area which can very well be utilised for various public buildings and for the commercial development of the town.

This place is easily accessible from many parts of the town which makes it suitable site for public buildings and government offices. This is a potential place for the proposed Integrated Courts Complex and an Integrated Offices Complex. An Integrated Offices Complex may help shift the offices functioning in rented buildings. It would be a great relief for various departments which pays huge sum as rent.

The development of the locality must be planned and a design layout must be drafted out to guide the development. The place is also suitable for bringing up commercial establishments. Government can even come up with a multistoryed market similar to the one proposed for Erode.

As a first step to increase the more activity along this stretch, 'Share Auto' service and the bus service must be introduced.

A long sighted initiative must be taken for traffic planning. Necessary land must be acquired and reserved along the road and railway routes, before the value of the land sores up.

As the value of the land rises encroachments becomes an major issue. Real estate owners tries to make most of the land: their own land and the public land. Already some of them have illegally occupied the river bank with help of corrupt officials. This illegal occupation is done along the south west corner of the bridge, which is shown in photo. Note: The photograph was taken several months back, now the place looks completely different.

A distant view of Kammianpet-Semandalam bridge as seen from the land which was recently converted into plots.

The river bund road connecting Jawan's Bhavan and Kammianpet has further increased the land value. This was a dreamproject for decades. The inaccessible part of the town is about to get a good access. De-congesting the roads is the direct reason behind the project, but the resulting development along is this stretch will be unimaginable. A similar bund road from Kammianpet and Padirikuppam would nurture the ongoing developement process. Though it may not be economically viable to carry out such a project at this stage, keeping the river bank safe from illegal occupiers is vital.


Note: The above photos were taken several months back

Related links:

Gedilam bank to be raised - The Hindu

Bridge across Gedilam coming up: Bedi - The Hindu

Broadening of Hospital Road and the shortfalls

Several months back Hospital Road was broadened. There were electric posts at the edge of the old road. The extension work was carried without shifting the posts away. As a results vehicles cannot go beyond the old road. The broadening work did not serve its purpose. Concrete floors laid as a part of the extension work were of extreme poor quality.
Now a few weeks back a black topped road was laid over that again without shifting the electric posts outwards. May it be luggishness of Electricity Board or the Department of Highways, ultimate sufferers are the people.

The footpath construction work is in progress on the other side of the road. Though in a very slow pace,seems the work would get complete in a couple of months.

The most dangerous part of the road is turning where Hospital Road leads into Nellikuppam High Road. Building of median helped to bring down the number of accidents here. But still it is not a safer place. Trees are cut down and culverts are extended to broaden the road here. Seems some work on the drainge need to done (to the north of the road) before the actual broadening process can take place. But the temple to the south of the road here remains untouched. It is sensitive issue to remove an encroachment when it is temple. People easily get infuriated and fall to pseudo sentiments when a temple is to be removed and try all they can do to stop the removal work. Without realising that it is being down for their comfort and saftey, and finally one day they themselves or their children become the prey.

Encroachments removed from Gedilum riverbank - The New Indian Express

A news article that appeared in The New Indian Express on 24th of August.


Encroachments were removed from a riverbank here on Wednesday with the help of police. The affected residents staged a demonstration protesting against the government move.

In an effort to lay a connecting road between the main bus stand and a bridge across River Gedilum at Kammiyampettai, revenue officials removed the encroachments on Wednesday morning.

The Cuddalore Municipality had decided to establish the road with the intention of avoiding traffic snarls in the coastal town. As many as 100 families, who were residing in huts, were evacuated from the riverbank.....