Residents of Mahalakshmi Nagar say that not much has happened in their area in terms of improvement of infrastructure ever since it was annexed to Madurai Corporation under Ward 26.
“During an inspection by corporation officials last week, many small shops and houses were given notices questioning why drainages from the buildings were connected to the storm water drain when they should have been linked to underground drainage pipeline. But this area does not have underground drainage!” says S. Veerabahu, a resident.
The residents are miffed at the notices asking them not to use the storm water channels. “Where else will the sewage from our houses go? Since this is a newly added area, no effort has been taken to give UGD connections,” says V. Sreenivasan, another resident.
Members of the Mahalakshmi Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association point out that in a few houses, where occupants have refrained from letting sewage into the storm water channels, sewage flows into an empty plot to stagnate amidst thorny bushes and shrubs.
“During rains, we live in constant fear of dengue and other vector-borne diseases due to the unhygienic conditions,” they complain. The ward was previously with Kannanendal panchayat and brought under the corporation limits in 2012.
Water woesCouncillor S. Genkes Khan, who belongs to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, says that during summer the ward faces a severe water shortage.
“We have dug lines leading to the Parasuramanpatti oorani and Parasuramanpatti tank which helped in filling up the waterbodies during the recent monsoon. The Public Works Department initiated clearing work in the tank a few months back, but the tank bed has not been properly cleared,” he says.
The ward is a thickly populated residential area spread over more than two km and Mr. Genkes Khan points to a depleting groundwater level, which is now below 1,000 feet.
“Many areas, including Kamban Nagar, Shanthi Nagar and Bama Nagar, do not get water supply through common taps or domestic connections. Residents depend on water supplied in lorries every alternate day,” he notes.
Residents are of the view that while the councillor is cooperative and helps them in representing grievances to the corporation, no development of infrastructure has taken place so far.
Battered roadsPointing to Mahalakshmi Nagar Third Street, S. Murugesan, secretary of Mahalakshmi Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, says that a petition was recently submitted to the Mayor for repairing the battered road.
“In our petition, we have sought improvement to basic facilities and inspection of wards. Our demands include better road and drainage facilities,” he says.
Mr. Genkes Khan acknowledges that Shanthi Nagar is the only road with UGD but not connected to the main line. “The main road connecting Moondru Maavadi to Iyer Bungalow, used by schoolchildren and commuters, is in a terrible condition. No new road has been laid in the ward in the last one year. We have submitted proposals for the roads and are waiting for action to be taken,” he adds.
