Six months ago, after the execution of the underground drainage scheme, the Coimbatore Corporation undertook the storm water drainage work on Shastri Street in Rathinapuri. Today, at the southern side of the road, which comes under Ward 49, the drain remains incomplete with iron rods protruding at many places.
All along the Shastri Street, which serves as the main road linking 60 plus streets in the congested Rathinapuri area, shopkeepers and residents have placed wooden planks and iron sheets to access the road.
At other places on the Street, the residents cannot place even the planks, as the protruding iron rods prevent that.
The residents have been suffering for six months due to official apathy, complains Ward Councillor Meena Loganathan.
She says that she had raised the issue at the Council and also taken it up with officials concerned, but to no avail.
C. Raju, a shopkeeper, says that the dust that gets kicked up when vehicles pass by because of the incomplete work is too much to bear.
He says that at several places, the drain is more than eight feet deep and at such places accidents are bound to happen as there is no protection for pedestrians or two-wheeler riders.
K.P. Durairaj, a grocer, says that at the Shastri Street-Second Street Junction, the Corporation has been trying to construct a culvert for the past 45 days. As that area happens to be right in front of the shops, no customer visits his shop and he has lost all business. It was only on Tuesday that the contractor in-charge of executing the work fixed iron rods, he laments.
The officials say that they will look into the issue.
