Residents of Pallavapuram municipality have sent 3,000 petitions with one lakh signatures to various agencies, including the Chief Minister’s cell, for revision of sewerage charges proposed by the municipality.
The Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram and Chromepet plans to intensify its stir if the municipality goes ahead with the hiked charges.
President of Visweswaran Street Residents Association in Subash Nagar, Chromepet, R. Srinivasan, says the municipality has proposed Rs. 150 as monthly underground drainage charges, as against the Rs. 60 that was collected by the Chennai Corporation.
The Federation has raised the issue with municipality officials several times, without any success. The residents said they have already paid Rs. 10,500 as deposit along with connection fees.
According to municipal officials, escalation in project costs led to the proposal to charge more from residents.
“How can we be held responsible for delay in the project? Rs. 150 a month will be a burden on middle-class tenants,” says V. Santhanam, president of the Federation.
Pallavaram MLA P. Dhansingh says there will be some relief for residents soon.
Pallavapuram municipal chairman Nizar Ahamed says he held talks with the commissioner of municipal administration and there are certain procedures to be followed to reverse the proposal, which is being fine-tuned now.
