Evicteess spend a night in the open

KOCHI:  It was a crowded scene at Manapattiparambu on Wednesday as migrants, who were evicted from here spent the night without any shelter. The Corporation authorities, who cleared the area of migrants after demolishing their shelters, however made no alternative arrangement to house the hapless people. The High Court had ordered to carry out the eviction process only after the Corporation arranged proper night shelter. Mayor Tony Chammany said the eviction is conducted after a report given by the District Medical Officer that Manapattiparmabu is an epicentre of epidemic outbreak. He said these people are very rich and can  easily afford to rent a house in the city. The Corporation will not allow anyone to encroach upon the public property and it is not the responsibilty of the Corporation to provide shelter to the nomads, he said. Many NGOs and social activists came out in protest over the issue.  A local resident living nearby entered into a verbal clash with a social activist for supporting the nomads. “These people have to be given night shelter. Their children are studying in schools here. The five night shelters in the city are overcrowded. The Corporation should have arranged some facility before evicting them. Instead, the Corporation conducted eviction drive even without informing them,” Murugan a social activist said.