Anjur residents up in arms against the formation of a new road along the bunds of village lake

The residents of the Anjur village near Chengalpattu are concerned by the unauthorised formation of a road in the Periya Eri during the past few weeks.

The lake, which is administered by the Water Resources department (WRD), located in Survey no. 158 and spread over 180 acres, is the main water source for the farming activities of the villagers.

The Anjur panchayat comes under the Kattankulathur block of Chengalpattu district. A fortnight ago, the residents were shocked when heavy machinery was brought to form a new 40-feet road along the bunds of the sprawling lake.

The villagers enquired with the panchayat officials about the formation of a road along the perimeter of the lake and found that the road was being constructed by a private contractor. 

J. Jayadoshini, a resident of Pillayar Koil Street of Anjur village, in a representation to the Superintendent Engineer of WRD, highlighting the lake being the only source of water for taking up agricultural activities, charged that it was being unauthorisedly used by a private contractor for forming a road. 

In the representation signed by the villagers of Anjur panchayat, they demanded the stopping of the formation of a private road along the lake. 

The Water Resources Department officials admitted receiving complaints about the new road encroaching into Anjur Periyaeri lake area. Officials noted that residents used an approach road along the lake to reach the burial ground. It was found that some of them had attempted to lay a new road, which was 5 to 15 metre wide along the existing cement road, without permission from WRD. 

The department has instructed Kattankulathur Block Development Officer to remove the mud road. The BDO has also been asked to submit a detailed project report on the need to lay a road in the lakebed.