Chennai: The Chengalpattu authorities have commenced the eviction process of 40 families to facilitate the construction of a bus terminal just a day after a 58-year-old man died by suicide opposing the eviction drive in RA Puram of Chennai on Monday.
According to a report on IANS, 40 families reside on a three-acre plot where the proposed bus terminal is expected to come up. The 40 members do not have any patta or title deeds since the land is part of a 300-acre area of a government medical college.
Sunanda (44), a resident on the plot while speaking to IANS said, "We don't have anywhere else to go. What can ordinary people do if the government asks us to vacate one fine morning? We will protest against this."
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The 40 families are also planning to move the court against the eviction drive.
Chengalpattu district Collector AR Rahul Nath while speaking to IANS said, "The said land was donated by a landlord Vedachalam Mudaliar through a gift deed some 60 years ago and the area was not fenced during those days leading to encroachments."
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The district collector also said that the families know clearly that the land belongs to the medical college and that was the reason why they have not spoken about the title deeds for the past 30 years.
However, the residents said that they'll hold strong protests against the decision of the Chengalpattu administration.
(With IANS inputs)