Amid tight security, revenue officials removed buildings, tiled houses, thatched shelters and shops that were constructed on an encroached land near Sirunaicken Tank at Kamarajar Nagar on Palani-Dharapuram Road here on Tuesday.
More than 100 shops and houses were demolished on the first day of the encroachment removal drive in the temple town.
Local people thronged the area and tried to prevent the operation. But the police informed the people that encroachments were removed as per court direction.
The revenue officials also explained that Public Works Department officials had served notices to all occupants and shop owners to vacate their premises last week.
Notice ignored
As they ignored the notice, the PWD officials and revenue officials started removing illegal structures near the waterbody.
\ More than 1,500 families had been living at Kamarajar Nagar for more than 50 years.
During a survey, the revenue officials found that the houses and buildings were constructed very close to the tank. More than 400 houses had been were constructed on the encroached land. All those structures would be demolished, the officials said.
To protect waterbody
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had directed the revenue officials to remove encroachments around waterbodies in Palani town to protect them.
