A Vinayagar temple was demolished under tight police security as part of an ongoing road expansion project in Chinnakavanam, near Ponneri in Thiruvallur district, despite strong objections from local residents.

The road widening aims to link Adani Port in Kattupalli (near minjur) to the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, passing through Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat). As part of the plan, the stretch between Peruvayal and Pazhaverkadu is being expanded, covering areas including Elaimbedu, Chinnakavanam, Medur, and Thirupalaivanam.

Numerous homes in Chinnakavanam have already been cleared to make way for the project. However, when it came to the Vinayagar temple located along the planned route, local residents protested its removal. They had requested that the temple be relocated to a new site with proper compensation before any demolition took place.

Despite the appeals, officials from the Revenue and Highways Department arrived with three bulldozers and began the demolition process under significant police protection to prevent disturbances. Locals, citing the ongoing Aadi festival with 10 days still remaining, pleaded for a postponement, but the authorities declined.

Protesters were detained by the police and held temporarily at a nearby wedding hall. The temple idol was carefully removed before the structure was razed using bulldozers.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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The post Locals Protest As Vinayagar Temple Demolished During Aadi Festival In Thiruvallur appeared first on The Commune.

Tensions erupted in Janakiraman Colony in Arumbakkam when local residents staged a protest against the demolition of a 40-year-old Vinayagar temple. The Greater Chennai Corporation officials arrived to carry out the demolition in compliance with an order from the Madras High Court.

The controversy began when a local doctor petitioned the Madras High Court, requesting the temple’s removal. The petition argued that the temple was built on a stretch of road encroaching upon land in Ward 105 of Arumbakkam, and it was causing an obstruction to traffic flow.

In response to the court’s directive, Chennai Corporation officials from Zone 8 arrived on 19 November 2024, to execute the demolition. However, their attempt was met with fierce opposition from local residents, who organized a sit-in protest near the temple to block the workers.

The situation quickly escalated as more residents gathered, creating a tense standoff. The police were called in to manage the growing unrest and maintain order in the area.

One resident expressed that the issue stemmed from a personal ego clash between the complainant and the colony, describing it as a conflict involving one individual’s ego against the community. She argued that the temple had never caused any disturbance, but instead brought positive energy to the area. She warned that if the temple were demolished, it could lead to various nuisances, such as strangers loitering, encroachment, and cars being parked inappropriately.

An elderly resident also voiced her frustration, questioning why the temple should be demolished after peacefully existing in Janakiraman Colony for 40 years.

She reflected on the significance of the temple, saying, “Generations have relied on this temple for spiritual peace. It’s a place where we cleanse our hearts, where simply passing by and offering a small prayer, we feel our sins are washed away. I can’t afford to visit other temples, which charge fees, but here it’s free. Can this be taken away from us? As Bharati sang, ‘My heart can’t tolerate this.’ Yesterday, we were praying to Lord Ganapathi to save us, but today, we pray to save Lord Ganapathi.”

"கணபதியே காப்பாற்று என்ற நிலை மாறி… கணபதியை காப்பாற்று என அலற வச்சிட்டாங்களே…"
சென்னை அரும்பாக்கத்தில் 40 ஆண்டு கால பிள்ளையார் கோயிலை இடிக்க மாநகராட்சி முயற்சி#Chennai | #Temple | #Arumpakkam | #TNPolice | #GCC | #Corporation | #TamilJanam pic.twitter.com/Hxs8EXGmfc

— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) November 19, 2024

(With inputs from DTNext)

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The post Corporation Officials Arrive To Demolish 40-Year-Old Vinayagar Temple In Chennai’s Arumbakkam Citing Court Order, Devotees Protest appeared first on The Commune.