Residents of Sankar Nagar here narrated the prevailing woeful civic conditions in their locality to the members of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly’s Estimates Committee that came to inspect a girls’ hostel on Thursday.
The committee, headed by B.G. Narayanan and five other people’s representatives, was on its routine agenda of inspecting various projects including aided and government colleges, hostels, and public infrastructure facilities in the city.
Views sought
The members interacted with the public and other stakeholders and sought their views.
They inspected paid vehicle stand at New Bus Stand and found that exorbitant fares were being collected. They asked the Salem Corporation officials to cancel the lease immediately.
They, accompanied by Collector K. Maharabushanam and Corporation Commissioner M. Asokan, also visited two city colleges where the principals told them about the vacancy positions and urged the committee members to provide facilities such as toilets and auditoriums.
The members went to Adi Dravidar Welfare Department’s Girls’ Hostel at Sankar Nagar and inspected the facilities there.
When they came out after completing the inspection at the hostel, the residents of Sankar Nagar where the hostel was located, told them that civic conditions were ‘very bad’ in their locality and mosquitoes swarmed all over them.
A woman even displayed her hand with full of mosquito bites.
“The overflowing sewers, bad roads and garbage heaps have rendered the residential locality unliveable. Prolonged power cuts have added to our woes,” said a resident.
Another woman said that used sanitary napkins are disposed of in open areas attracting stray dogs.
The members assured the residents that they would take up the matter with appropriate forum.
The team visited the Salem Government Medical College Hospital and Tirumanimutharu river project.
Joint Secretary Balasubramanian and others were present during inspection.