Southern suburbs languish as civic projects remain incomplete

Residents of Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam staged a demonstration on Saturday demanding a solution to their long-pending civic woes.

Nearly 300 residents representing various residents’ welfare associations participated in the demonstration organised by the Federation of Chennai Suburban (South) Welfare Association on Madipakkam Kootu Road. Members of the federation said that the project to construct underground drainage and drinking water network in Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam, which began two years ago, is proceeding at a snail’s pace. Work to provide lines for house service connections has been left incomplete, they complained.

S. Vasudevan, president of the federation said the work, which is being executed by Chennai Metrowater, has been completed only in about 100 of the 500 streets. The roads have become very slushy as they have not been re-laid. “Even walking has become cumbersome. The roads have been in poor condition for the past one year. The civic agency must ensure temporary roads are laid to prevent water-logging,” he said.Residents also demanded the project be expedited to allow blacktopping of the roads.

“We now depend on groundwater from borewells and packaged drinking water for all our needs. Speedy completion of the project would help reduce water problems in our area,” said a member. Proper desilting of stormwater drain network was also need of the hour. The silt heaped up along the drains is often not cleared properly. There are not sufficient garbage bins at Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam, complained residents.

Mr. Vasudevan said that the seven-km long Medavakkam Main Road, which connects many areas such as Keelkattalai, Madipakkam and Kovilambakkam, has to be upgraded into a four-lane facility throughout its stretch.

Moreover, a sub-station must be provided in the area to arrest frequent power fluctuations, he added. Residents demanded that the civic woes of the newly merged area be addressed immediately.