On June 8, J.Kayalvizhi, Councillor of Ward 179 had a very unique celebration on the occasion of retrieving an encroachment at Thiruvanmiyur – planting tree saplings at the edge of the roads.
The recently retrieved land, which was previously a kuchcha road, was made a pucca tar road, post retrieval. The Madipakkam Social Service (MSS) Trust was invited to help green the area and 43 saplings were planted with their help.
“The strip of land, encroached by the Kalakshetra Foundation, cut off many residences, specially the underprivileged, living beyond Kalakshetra, from the main road. The institute also threatened to raise a wall to restrict the movement of those people and allowed only pedestrians through the place. Vehicles were not allowed and thus had to take a circuitous route. This specifically proved tedious for senior citizens, residents going to work, school going children and those seeking medical help as they had to travel an extra 2.5 km to reach the main road,” explained the Councillor.
After the residents highlighted their plight to the Councillor, she promptly acted to retrieve the land. Kalakshetra immediately filed a stay order. However, the court identified the land as belonging to the Corporation and was handed over thus.
Utilising the ward funds, the Councillor soon presented the residents with a tar road, on the edges of which saplings were planted on June 8.
The Councillor thanked minister Ma.Subramanian (Health and Family Welfare) for his support and the cooperation of Executive Engineer Purushothaman, AEE Ashok Kumar, AE Manivel and Paraasivam, MSS Trust Director Saravana Kumar, social activist Kamakshi Subramaniyam, Priya Rajasekar, Green Committee member T.D.Babu and Secretary Swaminathan Jayakumar.
MSS Plantation Trust shares their experience of working with the Councillor at Thiruvanmiyur, “Twenty-five members of MSS Foundation arrived at the spot to start work. When the Councillor took the shovel to start the digging, the team were highly motivated and started digging pits for planting. The saplings and the mesh protector for the saplings arrived as separate loads. Local residents happily gave a helping hand and worked as a family. Snacks, food and hydrating drinks made it all the more fun. A good partnership of community and corporation can do wonders indeed!”
