The Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram and Chromepet is reported to have forwarded petitions to the Chief Minister’s Cell, requesting solutions to long-pending issues.
Among the issues that residents sought to draw attention to were the allegedly high charges for the Underground Drainage (UGD) system and slow progress of the Radha Nagar subway.
The Federation has also asked the State Government to intervene, talk to the Centre and ensure cancellation of the ASI order that currently forbids construction of buildings in five wards of Pallavaram.
“The Pallavapuram Municipality levies Rs.150 as monthly UGD charges, as against the Rs. 60 charged by the Corporation. The charges should be brought down on par with that of the civic body. The Federation has represented this issue several times to officials of Pallavapuram Municipality, and elected representatives including Chairman K. M. R. Nissar Ahamed and Pallavaram MLA P. Dhansingh. The residents have paid more than Rs. 20, 000 as deposit and connection fees,” the petition stated.
Residents said the Pallavapuram Municipality could adopt the then Alandur Municipality cost model in this regard.
The Alandur Municipality charged on the basis of plinth area house. The rates varied, ranging from Rs. 60 to Rs. 120, they added.
More than 1000 people, who have built their homes in five wards in Pallavaram, which have declared as ‘megalithic sites’ by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), suffer from a lack of electric supply, cannot make alterations, sell or mortgage their homes without getting the No Objection Certificate from the ASI. The Association has moved the High Court over this. Since the process will take longer, we urge the State Government to take up the issue with the Central Government to scrap the order, which affects the people, the Association members said. Another issue was the delay in the construction of the Radha Nagar subway. More than 1,000 people live on the Eastern side of Chromepet. If they have to come to Grand Southern Trunk Road, they have to cross the Radha Nagar Railway Gate. The Railways, and the Tamil Nadu Highways Department collaborated to construct the subway. The railways has finished its portion of the work. For the past couple of years, the State Highways Department is yet to take up the work. Highways Department officials say the land owners have moved the court. Because of the incompletion of work, people are forced to cross the railway tracks, putting their lives in jeopardy. Nearly 30 to 40 people are hit by moving trains every year. The early completion of subway will benefit the public, and could save human lives, according to a petition.
