The residents, mostly Sri Lankan repatriates, of Selvip Nagar in Adhigaratty panchayat have complained about the lack of a footpath leading to their village.
More than 90 families, mostly daily wage workers and tea plantation workers, reside in Selvip Nagar for over two decades.
According to the residents, there are no footpaths leading to the village and the mud path used by them becomes impassable during monsoon. “Schoolchildren and the elderly suffer the most. One person even broke his leg after suffering a fall on his way to the village,” said M. Paramasivam, a resident.
There is no bus connectivity to the village and the residents have to walk three km to the nearest bus stop. The road leading to the bus stop also remains damaged.
Sad plight
On Thursday, locals trudged through slush carrying a coffin on their shoulders to a nearby cemetery, to bury a resident who died on Wednesday. Because of the lack of footpath, it took them almost an hour before they reached the burial ground, which was less than a km away. K.Pushparaj, a local elder, said that he had submitted numerous petitions to the District Collector in the past, but there had been no action taken. “We have been completely marginalised by the panchayat officials,” said Mr. Pushparaj.
