Bridging infrastructure needs in Coimbatore

November 24, 2014 12:44 pm | Updated 12:44 pm IST

Ward 5 comprising parts of Kavundampalayam seems to be slightly better off compared to wards in Thudiyalur, in that the dozen-odd localities in the Ward have roads and street lights that are to the residents’ satisfaction.

The better infrastructure has to do with the fact that the locality, by being a part of the then Kavundampalayam Municipality, had seen higher expenditure on roads, street lights and waste management as against areas in Thudiyalur, which was only a town panchayat with little resources.

And, when it became part of the Corporation, the civic body only added to what was available, says Councillor K. Maheshkumar.

The one area, however, where the Ward residents’ plight seems to be comparable to that of other added areas is water supply, he admits. The Corporation supplies water only thrice a month and sometimes the water supply crosses the 10-day mark. The locality gets water under the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board’s Kavundampalayam-Vadavalli combined drinking water supply scheme drawing water from River Bhavani.

The groundwater supply too is poor in that he is forced to buy water, complains resident S. Mariappan of Nagappa Colony.

Sources in the Corporation say that the civic body has sent a proposal to the State Government for Rs. 42 crore to revamp the water supply in wards in Kavundampalayam and also Vadavalli by replacing the distribution lines and constructing more reservoirs. Once implemented, the residents will get water at 135 litres per capita a day.

Another pending demand is the bridge across the Sanganoor Canal. The Corporation seems to have listened to the problem but only partially as the work to construct the bridge remains incomplete. The civic body has built the pillars but not the pier, rues resident N. Rajamanickam of Cheran Nagar Youth and Welfare Association.

Corporation sources say that the work remains incomplete because the Rs. 30 lakh sanctioned proved to be inadequate. Mr. Maheshkumar says that another Rs. 30 lakh is needed to complete the work and that the civic body authorities have promised to sanction the amount.

The other two issues that concern the Ward are poor drainage on the western side of Mettupalayam Road that leads to inundation at the Kavundampalayam Junction and the bus stop at Cheran Nagar.

Resident V. Raghu says that the Corporation should work with the authorities to shift the Cheran Nagar bus stop 100 m or so up north to reduce accidents.

For, the vehicles moving out of Cheran Nagar onto Mettupalayam Road invariably get hit by vehicles moving from south to north as buses stopping at the junction obstruct view.

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