Right from laying roads to inadequate water supply to erratic power, everything was discussed at the residents meet that was held at the Councillor’s office on C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet. About 50 to 60 residents from various places of Alwarpet and Mylapore participated in the open hour.
The residents demanded explanation from the officials for their problems. Residents of Viswespuram Street asked for replacement/installation of EB cables and pillars. They spoke of frequent cable and busbar burning in their street. They felt that officials of TNEB had not properly estimated the power consumption in the area and blamed the officials for replacing the worn out electrical wires in parts, instead of changing them completely, thus providing a temporary solution to the problem. They also felt that there was a need to replace the existing lines with wires of higher thickness and capacity.
The entire crowd blamed the local assistant engineer for the lack of support. “He fails to answer our calls or visit locations. We request the officials to be more approachable,” said the residents.
Water scarcity
Some of the residents of V.M. Street and IV Street, R.K. Salai, Mylapore, felt that Metro Water supply was being partial to these streets. “While flats at the beginning of our streets get plenty of water, those at the tail end are deprived of it totally.” They said that they are forced to buy water.
Kannusamy of Abiramapuram IV Street felt that CPR Road was slowly turning into a commercial area. Too many restaurants and schools have come up in the locality and this has disturbed the peace of the residents. “I request the officials to think twice before issuing licence to new business establishments here,” he said. Bhavesh Shah was of the view that the rising number of share autos and autos are causing traffic problems on CPR Road.
“People do not have a specific point to board or get down from the auto. This results in a haphazard traffic flow,” he said.
“Abhiramapuram III Street was recently dug up to lay storm water drains. But the work is incomplete and yet to see the light of the day. Indiscriminate parking of two-wheelers on the entire stretch of the road is a perennial problem,” said C.V. Dhanasekaran.
Garbage disposal
Residents were unhappy with garbage disposal in their area. They wanted Ramky to provide separate bins for commercial and residential purposes.
“We have not received water for nearly a year now,” said Lakshmi of Sankarapuram, a locale off Alamelumangapuram. She said that the tank, which is kept on the street, is the only source of drinking water. She also complained that the drainage blocks on V.C. Garden Street and St. Mary’s Road affected Sankarapuram largely.
C. Rajendran, MP, who graced the occasion, appreciated people’s involvement and promised to release funds for improving infrastructure in the ward.
He also promised to provide solutions at the earliest. Dr. Ravi and Dr. Murali, who had convened the meet, thanked the residents for their cooperation. They said that the next grievance meet would be held two months later.
