The only good aspect about ward 13 is that there is no Tasmac outlet here. But, like any other ward, the residents experience all other problems, with mosquito menace topping it.
Situated in the central part of the Temple City, the ward can be easily identified, since it is very close to the Madurai Central Prison on one side. On the other, the Karimedu fish market falls under this ward.
On days of heavy arrivals at the market, the road not only gets choked from as early as 4 a.m., but also the water used to clean the fish gets stagnated along the road side, which keeps the stench for long hours.
Considered as the smallest ward, with a population of about 6,500, the compact ward has elected D. Pandiammal, a first time councillor, on the AIADMK ticket.
Known for her active interaction with residents, Ms. Pandiammal helps public, who come to her with grievances. Be it non-availability of drinking water or difficulty in getting old age pension (OAP) or admission to the Corporation school, she responds promptly, is the general response.
When The Hindu team visited the ward, some of the roads, including Motilal Main Road, were in a bad shape.
However, as the ward is located close to the bus stands (Periyar and Arapalayam) people expressed satisfaction over the availability of different modes of transport, including share auto and TNSTC buses round the clock.
The Corporation-run Pandithurai School has adequate basic amenities. The councillor has helped poor people get OAP and ration cards and laid paver block roads in her ward, through the MLA’s local area development fund.
She has also installed additional street lights, benefitting many residents, including those in Alagaradi, Ram Nagar and Rajendra Main Road.
“Some four years ago, when public objected to a Tasmac outlet in my ward, I appealed to the Collector who got it shifted,” she recalls. Though the fish market is considered to be one of the biggest in the city, as it has 100 outlets, the stench has kept both residents and commercial undertakings away from the ward.
While the Corporation announced a year ago that it would shift the fish market to a place beyond Kochadai, it is yet to act on it.
A senior Corporation official, requesting anonymity, said that the proposal might not be implemented as residents in and around Kochadai had objected to the market coming to their locality. Now, the Corporation is contemplating to move it near the integrated bus stand at Maatuthavani, where already other markets are functioning.
“While long-time residents are used to the fish market, the unpleasant smell in the air, however, discourages people from choosing the area,” said Pandi, a petty shopkeeper on Bharatiar Road.
A resident, G. Velumani, said that the ward has a primary health centre on New Jail Road functioning very well. The 30-bed maternity hospital attached to it has all infrastructure, including dedicated doctors and para-medical team.
Drugs are available in sufficient quantity. The councillor visits the PHC regularly. An employee of the PHC said that the hospital was on par with some of the clinics run by leading doctors in the vicinity.
The councillor said that she had done everything to the residents in accordance with her election promises and “the only appeal I have for the Commissioner and Mayor (in-charge) is to lay roads on three streets in my ward.”
