Residents have been protesting the demolition of encroachments in Chitlapakkam lake, where the clearance drive kicked off in January 2022. Officials suspended the clearance of encroachments after protesters staged a road blockade.
The latest clearance drive on the Chitlapakkam lake was prompted by a Madras High Court order passed in 2022, in response to a public interest litigation filed by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam in 2019. The Madras HC has also issued orders for the removal of encroachments from water bodies in its previous judgements passed in 2007 and 2015.
In 2017, the district administration removed 12 non-residential encroachments from the lake. A few religious structures including temples, a mosque and a church were also demolished. In 2019, Chitlapakkam Rising, a local NGO that has been working to restore the lake, organised volunteers to conduct a cleanliness drive of the lake to fight water scarcity. The NGO’s campaign for a government desilting project bore fruit later that year when the Chief Minister earmarked Rs. 25 crore for the project. Following a High Court order that made its “zero-tolerance policy” towards encroachment of water bodies, the Public Works Department started issuing eviction notices to the encroachers. However, the eviction did not take place immediately due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In April 2021, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that it had identified 403 encroachments on Chitlapakkam lake and issued notices to all of them. Of the total encroachments, 374 are house sites. In July 2021, the HC ordered the removal of all encroachments. However, the government failed to meet this deadline due to the lockdown imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. In January 2022, the government relaunched the encroachment removal drive on the Chitlapakkam lake, but only managed to remove 74 so far.
It may be noted that despite only a section of the encroachments being removed, the government submitted in the HC that all of them, except a school, had been cleared. However, an RTI reply accessed by the Times of India, showed that only 74 encroachments had been removed. Following this, the government filed an affidavit stating that the previous submission had an inadvertent error.
Sunil Jayaram, the founder of Chitlapakkam Rising, told LCW that the residents, who have been labeled encroachers, have been living in the area for the past 50-60 years. "They feel that the eviction is taking place in a biased manner. They find it unfair that some of their neighbours have received pattas but they haven't. Meanwhile, the government continues to flout the law by building police stations and other facilities on water bodies. Only the houses of those who have accepted alternative accommodation have been demolished so far," he said. Following protests, the Water Resources Department has put the demolition drive on hold.
Meanwhile, the residents united to protect local water bodies, responding to issues like pollution, encroachment and recurring extreme weather. Communities, in collaboration with local authorities, ensured proper maintenance and rehabilitation, reflecting a growing awareness of environmental sustainability.
Over the last seven years, residents of Chitlapakkam in Chennai restored the 50-acre lake, transforming it from a neglected, polluted water body into a vital community resource.
Chitlapakkam Rising led various initiatives such as petitions, clean-up drives, and protests to gain government attention, resulting in a Rs 25 crore state-funded restoration project. Their efforts included desilting, sewage deflection, and deepening the lake. Today, the restored lake provides groundwater recharge and recreational spaces for locals, exemplifying community-driven environmental activism.
Despite efforts to restore the lake, encroachments continue to affect its revival. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) also raised concerns about the ongoing encroachments around the lake, questioning why these illegal occupations have been left untouched. Local authorities have been criticized for their inaction, as the NGT had previously directed them to remove encroachments and protect the lake.
The issue highlights a broader struggle between conservation efforts and lax enforcement, which undermines the restoration initiatives aimed at preserving the lake's ecological balance.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
25
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2019
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Madras High Court
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Madras High Court
Case Number
W.P.No.10666 of 2019
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Water Resources Department, Revenue Department, Public Works Department, Police Department
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Hariprasad is a Tamil Nadu-based independent journalist who writes primarily on environmental and developmental issues. He has worked for and contributed to a number of leading publications. He can often be seen playing chess or struggling to learn the keyboard.
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