The Kancheepuram district administration has begun demolishing unauthorised structures and clearing dense vegetation on the Vegavathi river, which meanders through the temple town.
Officials from the municipal corporation, and the Public Works and Revenue departments cleared wild growth of thorny bushes 60 metres on either side of a small bridge near the District Collectorate on the Kancheepuram-Vandavasi Road.
During heavy rainfall on November 13 many areas were flooded by water draining out of lakes around the town. The flow on the Manjalneer Kalvai too increased, officials said. Normally, water from the lakes get drained via the Vegavathi.
But due to the vegetation and encroachments on the banks of the river, water overflowed from the river and entered residential areas. Pillayarpalayam was the worst hit of the localities, officials said.
Many encroachments were spared, alleged G.R.Ravi of Thamizh Makkal Panpattu Kazhagam. Residents have been fighting with the State government for over a decade to have them removed, he added.
