Alley reclaimed by Operation Anantha is lost

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A wide alley reclaimed at Chalai after evictions under Operation Anantha has almost gone back to its old form in just eight months, denying people a shortcut to Powerhouse Road. During February 2016, a pathway was commissioned opposite Vrindavan Gardens after evicting encroachers as a part of Operation Anantha that started in 2015. It connected city’s shopping hub to Putharikandam over a drain just behind KSRTC’s East Fort bus depot.

For a short while, the rail travellers were delighted as they could directly cross the Powerhouse Road terminal, enter Putharikandam and walk to Chalai using this alley. Incidentally, the revenue officials, as a part of a settlement, allowed the same encroachers to set shops beside the alley. Local activists had cried foul claiming that the path will soon be closed down by hook or crook and Deccan Chronicle had reported this in February 2015 itself.

On Tuesday, during yet another reconnaissance, the way was found closed with a hedge. Almost every inch was covered with garbage bags to ensure that thoroughfare is not possible. “Encroachers evicted from government land (purampokku) near the pathway were given a small triangular land including a local footwear chain. The rich people hope to legitimise the encroachments in the course of time. This settlement was reached based on ownership documents of encroachers that are not older than 1980. The irony is, the canal is over a century old,” said a trading community leader.

As per earlier Supreme Court orders, any building on a drain is by default an encroachment. Officials attached to Thiruvananthapuram tehsildar office said the owner had been paying taxes for some years and the shop also had local body’s license. “We are not aware of it being blocked now and will check the matter. It can be developed into a beautiful alley for shoppers if connected to Putharikandam with a revolving door,” an official said.