
Nearly 65,000 sq.m. of encroached land along the river has been retrieved so far in various localities.
| Photo Credit: Athullyea Padmanabhan
The Water Resources Department has launched an enumeration drive along the Adyar river in Saidapet to identify encroachments and aid the waterway’s restoration.
Of the total 600 encroachments identified in Thideer Nagar along the river, the WRD has so far completed the biometric process for nearly 267 structures so far.
Officials of the WRD said the enumeration drive would be carried out for the next four to five days. The process of clearing encroachments would begin after the approval of Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust. It would be carried out after deciding the resettlement location for the residents.

The department has been clearing encroachments in phases as part of the Adyar river restoration project. It had identified nearly 10,347 encroachments along various portions of the Adyar river. Though the encroachment removal drive was initiated five years ago, there was a delay owing to stiff opposition from residents and court cases.
The resettlement efforts and encroachments removal are being done based on the Madras High Court directive. Officials said about 2,000 more structures have been identified to be cleared in the neighbourhood, including in Mallipoo Nagar, Burma Nagar and Annai Sathya Nagar.
Nearly 65,000 sq.m. of encroached land belonging to the river have been retrieved so far in various localities. Officials said the Adyar river carried a peak flood flow of nearly 85,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) near Saidapet during the 2015 floods. The efforts would help rejuvenate the river and minimise flooding.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian said efforts are being taken to resettle residents in the neighbourhood. Residents of Thideer Nagar would be relocated to places like Gothamedu in Saidapet where additional quarters are expected to be constructed. Strengthening of the river’s bunds would be one of the major restoration works planned in the locality.
The department is also carrying out cleaning some vulnerable stretches of Adyar river as part of monsoon preparedness work.
Published – July 25, 2025 12:48 am IST