The residents of Govindasamy Nagar have questioned their ongoing eviction from the locality near the Buckingham Canal and alleged the failure of successive governments to argue their case appropriately in the court and non-allocation of alternative housing within city limits.
According to the government, the eviction is being done following contempt proceedings initiated by an individual in the Supreme Court against the government’s alleged failure to implement a previous order. A total of 366 families were evicted a few years before while another 259 are slotted for eviction now.
While there was opposition to the eviction process, some said they would be willing to relocate as a last resort if alternative accommodation was provided within the city. However, officials said that houses were available for them only in the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) tenements in Perumbakkam, Semmencheri, and Navalur.
