About 40 residents of Mosikeeranar 5th Street in 57th ward plunged into action on Wednesday by removing hyacinth spread over Kalingarayan canal, unable to tolerate mosquito bites.
The residents, mostly daily labourers, thought it fit to draw the attention of the official machinery to their plight of spending nights without sleep after hard work during daytime. The situation becomes unbearable during night hours, particularly at times when there is power cut. The mosquito repellents have no impact.
The City Corporation fumigates households once a week, but there was no action on the part of the PWD to remove the weeds that have grown rampantly due to discharge of untreated effluent by industries and diversion of sewage from the main bazaar area into the canal, Anbu, a resident rued.
A day after the residents submitted a petition to the district administration, a team of PWD officials inspected the area and empathized with their plight, but left saying there was no funds for the cleaning task, the residents complained, warning that they would be left with no option but indulge in road blockade protest if there is no action on the part of officials during this week.
