Ward Watch: A risky and slushy place along the Vaigai: Tamil Nadu

A dangerous sewage channel with no walls or fence is located in Subedar Thoppu 
By S. Poorvaja, www.thehindu.com   November 4, 2014

For vehicle users and pedestrians who have to pass through Subedar Thoppu in Pankajam Colony, safety has become a thing of the past. A sewage channel for the area, which originates in the street, is dangerously located with no walls or a fence, putting the lives of people at risk.

“The open drain has been lying exposed for years without a fence or a wall. This road is used by a number of schoolchildren as well as persons who come to the butcher and provision shop located here. They are at a constant risk of falling into it,” said M. Ponraj, a resident.  The residents of Ward 53, where the open sewage channel is located, claimed that sewage had been lying stagnant for years. “It has also contaminated groundwater and often a stench emanates from the water we use at home,” Mr. Ponraj added. The residents said they made a request for a protective wall or a concrete slab to cover the channel to prevent the risk of people or vehicles falling into it. Ward councillor Thangam Dhakshinamoorthy from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said a proposal had been submitted to the corporation authorities but to no avail.

“We also received complaints about mosquito problems because of stagnant sewage. Work needs to be taken up immediately on the sewage channel but the corporation has not allocated funds for the ward,” she said. The ward, which includes the sprawling Teppakulam, has many of its roads in a pathetic condition, pointed out the councillor herself. The residents further stated that no road had been laid in the last three years. “The bus stop near Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary School on Kamarajar Salai gets flooded the minute it starts raining. After repeated requests for repair work, a proposal has finally been accepted and work will begin soon,” Ms. Thangam said.

Residents of Pankajam Colony, Vadivel Nagar, A.A. Road and Thangam Nagar unequivocally called for attention to the condition of roads. “There is water stagnation whenever it rains on our narrow streets which are thickly populated as well,” said P. Pandiammal, a resident of Pankajam Colony First Street.

Safety concerns

Since a chunk of the ward’s area lies along the banks of the Vaigai, residents are also concerned about safety. “There used to be police patrol in the area at least twice a day. Police personnel used to be stationed at vulnerable areas. In their absence, chain-snatching and petty thefts are on the rise,” said N. Vanniarajan, a snack vendor.

“We used to go for walk early in the morning and in the evening, but we now find it difficult to venture out, as antisocial elements also frequent the road along the riverbank,” he added. Residents along the riverbank further stated that streetlights in the area too had stopped functioning. “While we have tried to solve small issues of residents here, we are often sidelined when it comes to allotment of funds since we are not from the ruling party,” alleged Ms. Thangam.

“Even the allotments our neighbouring wards 51 and 52 receive do not come to ward 53. Only if the ward is considered for infrastructure improvement – projects such as laying of paver block roads – will our residents be satisfied,” she added.