The operation began early in the morning with police protection. The drive began a week after the KR Puram tahsildar passed an order saying that the seminary of a Catholic Church at Carmelram near Doddakannalli had encroached half an acre of the tank-bed.
According to revenue officials, the church had encroached 21 guntas of the lake spread over nine acres and 17 guntas.
The encroachment came to light during a survey conducted in the wake of the High Court order to protect government lakes.
The Church authorities were aggrieved that the action was initiated without bringing the court order to their knowledge.
Protesting the move, Fr Thomas Vettikuzhiyil, the rector of the seminary, said the property was in the possession of the Church since 1964 and taxes were being paid since then.
