Along the Avinashi Road in Goldwins runs a drain that stops abruptly in front of a marble shop there. The drain carries sewage from houses in Ramraj Nagar, which is north of the Road, runs beneath the Avinashi Road to end up in a pit.
In short, the drain is incomplete. And the sewage stagnant. The problem has been there for close to seven years, ever since the Kalapatti Town Panchayat took up the drainage work, says Ward 35 Councillor B. Senthil. The then town panchayat administration took up the work and left it at that. Odour from the stagnant sewage and the accompanying mosquito problem has made life miserable, complains A. Ravichandran, a resident. The residents had complained to the authorities concerned but no action was taken.
During rain, the sewage enters houses. Getting in itself becomes difficult. That is why the residents have built the brick structure at the compound to prevent the inflow, says V. Rajagopal, another resident. Then the residents will be forced to move out and return only when the water drains out. The inflow in to the houses is also on account of the road height, which the State Highways Department has raised while developing the Avinashi Road.
To tide over the sewage stagnation, the Corporation has deployed sullage lorries to drain out the water every 15 days. There is no other way the water can be drained out. If left unattended, the water will flow on to Avinashi Road, the Councillor explains.
Seeking a permanent solution, he has asked the Corporation to construct a drain to take the sewage eastwards to connect it to a natural drain that flows through the Coimbatore Airport premises.
He has raised the issue at the Council and the Mayor has promised action by asking officials to prepare estimates, Mr. Senthil adds.
The other issue that has also been troubling the residents is the absence of street lights between Thottipalayam Pirivu and R.G. Pudur. Following complaints that the lights did not glow for long – close to two years – the Corporation repaired around 60. They worked well only to turn faulty. Since then the lights have remained faulty every now and then.
Also between the KMCH and Chinniyampalayam, there are no bus shelters. There are five bus stops – KMCH, Goldwins, Thottipalayam Pirivu, R.G. Pudur and Chinniyampalayam – but none has shelters. Mr. Senthil says that the Corporation should construct shelters at each stop, on both sides of the road, as the area welcomes people who move into the city from east.
Corporation officials say they are looking into the demands.
