The ongoing construction of underground water tank on the Udayapatti Main Road in Ayodhiyapattinam block has led to protest by the residents and the Communist Party of India (CPI) as they say that the tank was being built in the area marked by the highways department for road expansion.
With frequent accidents occurring on the stretch that serve as a link road between Ammapet and the Salem – Ulundurpet National Highway 78, residents said that their continuous protest led to government sanction for expanding the road.
They added that officials have already measured the area for road expansion work.
But Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) are building a tank under the Attur Water Supply Scheme along the road at a cost of more than Rs. 5 lakh.
Hence, if expansion work is carried out, the tank needs to be demolished.
“It is a waste of money and resource,” they added.
Residents said that buses and other vehicles from the city pass through the main road to reach the National Highway and there is a continuous flow of vehicles throughout the day. But the tank being constructed near Udayapatti bus stop is a waste of resources, they added.
On Wednesday, the cadre led by CPI district committee member D. Ilango and others staged a protest demanding that the tank be relocated away from the road.
They also said that their representations to the district administration many a time did not yield any results and hence, they were forced to protest.
