Chennai: After months of stalled progress and recurring resistance, govt agencies, including the Water Resources Department (WRD), Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai River Restoration Trust, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB), and revenue officials, are pressing ahead with the long-pending eviction drive along the Adyar River in Anakaputhur.The joint eviction drive, now focused on Quaid-E-Millath Nagar, aims to relocate 200 families currently living along the riverbank. On Sunday, officials reported that only 116 families agreed to accept the govt’s rehabilitation package, which includes TNUHDB tenements in Kirappakkam near Vandalur and in Perumbakkam. Authorities are continuing outreach efforts to persuade more residents to cooperate.A total of 400 encroachments were identified in the Anakaputhur section, with earlier phases of the operation clearing commercial establishments and encroachments in Dhobikhana. With 200 encroachments already removed from Quaid-E-Millath Nagar, the latest efforts target the remaining 200 residents. By Sunday evening, the eviction of 116 families was completed. Officials emphasized that the operation follows a directive from the Madras High Court and is on track for completion before the onset of the monsoon season.Looking ahead, officials noted that Mallipoo Nagar near Adyar Bridge poses the next major challenge, with over 1,200 identified encroachments in the area. This densely populated locality will require extensive coordination and resources to carry out the planned evictions.The eviction drive, though aligned with broader environmental and flood prevention goals, has not been without tension. On Saturday, a group of residents staged a protest, opposing both the eviction and the relocation sites offered by the govt. Authorities are working to manage such resistance through dialogue and assurances.The initiative forms a critical component of Chennai’s larger river restoration and flood mitigation strategy. By reclaiming and restoring the banks of the Adyar River, officials hope to reduce the city’s vulnerability to flooding and promote a more sustainable urban habitat.