The Janamaithri meeting held on Saturday turned out to be a platform for residents to raise civic issues confronting the city to specific complaints of threat posed due to non-closure of pits dug for laying pipes by the Kerala Water Authority, inconvenience caused due to unscientific traffic signals and about sale of drugs and liquor in open places.
As in other meetings held in the past, residents were irked at the way city Corporation and government handled the garbage issue and their reluctance to come together for the public cause. Raising the issue of garbage, T. Sukumaran, secretary of Pulimoodu Residents Association, said even after three years of the closure of Vilappilsala garbage plant, the civic body and government are unable to find an alternative for safe dumping of waste.
The meeting was attended by City Police Commissioner H. Venkatesh and officials from the City Corporation, Kerala State Electricity Board, Kerala Water Authority and Industries Department.
Echoing similar views, P.T. Saraphy, working president of the Thampanoor Residents Association, said a long-term solution should be worked out to dump waste in a scientific manner. Like the garbage issue, inundation in Thampanoor even during a light rain has become a cause of worry for the residents, he added.
A good number of people who attended the meet also brought to the fore the problem of non-functioning streetlights and stray dog issue. The residents pointed out that it was not just the residents who faced inconvenience, even pedestrians and motorists are thinking twice to come out after sundown as streetlights are not functioning in several roads. Several participants wanted the police to have a relook on the functioning of traffic signals kept at the Uppidamoodu Bridge. The signals, the residents said, turn fast creating confusion among motorists.
Vijayakumar, a resident of Thiruvallam, said the KWA often fails to close the pits dug for repairing or laying pipelines, thereby posing a threat to the lives of pedestrians and motorists.
Ramesh, secretary of Mazhoorkara Residents Association, near Muttathara, said there was a sudden spurt in the sale of ganja in the area and urged the police to conduct a raid in Perinnali market. Mr. Venkatesh said civic issues raised by the public would be brought to the knowledge of the Collector.
