Incessant rains over the past few days have dragged down public confidence in the civic administration’s monsoon preparedness with several residential neighbourhoods in Puducherry remaining water-logged and roadways turning unmotorable.
Areas such as Kamaraj Nagar, Rainbow Nagar, Uppalam and Boomianpet are among the worst affected in the water-logging. Though there was respite from the rains on Monday, these areas remained inundated because of failure of the civic authorities to bale out stagnant rainwater.
In Kamaraj Nagar, many roads were inaccessible owing to potholes or poor road conditions. Haphazard construction and the absence of a stormwater drainage system are the primary reasons behind water-logging. With the re-laying of 37 roads in the Boulevard area undertaken by the PWD still under way, the rains have worsened matters with debris, potholes and semi-tarred roads being a prominent feature on many stretches, including the arterial Gingee Salai and Ambour Salai.
Residents are being shunted between the PWD and the municipality, each claiming that the other is responsible for addressing the issue.
A senior PWD official blamed the situation on the delay in removing plastic waste from the drains by the municipal workers.
