For residents of both Visalakshi Nagar and Visalakshi Thottam, the canal which runs through the areas has been a cause of concern with regard to hygiene and sanitation in the area.
“Garbage has been indiscriminately dumped near the stagnant water and the stench is unbearable. Despite repeated complaints and corporation officials having inspected the area, nothing has been done to make the place more hygienic,” said C.M. Vedhapuri, president of the Visalakshi Nagar Residents Association.
Residents of the nearby Visalakshi Garden, located off Warran Road and that has housing board tenements as well as smaller houses, have also been affected. “Added to sanitation issues, residents living closer to the canal have also grapple with the mosquito menace,” said a resident.
While roads including Ranga Road, Warren Road and Narasimmapuram have been re-laid in the last few months, the pavements in many of the localities have been encroached upon. Ranga Road, in particular, was congested with construction debris was piled up in a various spots and two-wheelers parked on the pavements.
Since the ward also covers areas including St Mary’s Road, Eldams Road and parts of Mylapore including Luz, which have a heavy stream of traffic, the residents have further asked for the pavements to be made wider across the ward.
Despite the pending hygiene issues, the residents of Visalakshi Garden said that they were glad about the repair works being carried out on the outer structures of the slum board tenements.
“The buildings here are over 56 years old and many of them are in a pathetic state with broken sunshades, etc. Repair work needs to be carried out,” said Kasi, a resident.
Councillor P. Jansi Rani said that the buildings will receive a fresh coat of paint and that work on one building had already begun. “Before painting them, we are replacing the damaged sunshades and carrying out patchwork on the façade of the building,” she said.
