Choked Adyar river breeding mosquitoes

By S. Shanker

CHENNAI, SEPT. 21. City planners may take the credit for the formation of the Inner Ring Road, but for residents of Vasudeva Nagar and adjacent areas, their woes began after the Jafferkhanpet bridge over the Adyar river was constructed.

Uncleared construction debris and indiscriminate dumping of garbage have choked the ducts of the old causeway, blocking the flow of the river. Residents blame the choked ducts for the mosquito menace besides the nauseating stench. Undeterred by the filth of the still water, `dhobis' wash and dry clothes upstream along the banks.

The bridge has also affected the free access the residential colonies enjoyed before its construction. The only road leading to the residential locality off the Inner Ring Road, the Kanchi Natarajan Road touches the foot of the bridge on the Ashok Nagar side, where a low level central median denies a right turn for the vehicles coming from Ashok Nagar. Motorists have to take a `U' turn under the bridge to reach the colony. The traffic signal near the K.K.Nagar Telephone Exchange also does not permit a right turn. The potholes on the side roads and under the bridge, besides the haphazard parking of lorries and carts, make motoring difficult. Repeated pleas to pave the road, especially the stretch under the bridge, have not yielded any result, says Ms. Shoba Srikanth, general secretary, Vasudevan Nagar Residents Welfare Association. The residents allege that the department officials have stated that rules did not permit them to pave the portion, directly under the bridge.

The members say at least two accidents occur at the intersection everyday, at the point where the Natarajan Road meets the ring road, for the gradient of the bridge assisted vehicles to gain speed. Mr. J. Paul Edward, treasurer, said the Pillaiyar Koil Street, leading towards K.K.Nagar from their area was too narrow to allow free flow of traffic and entry from MGR Nagar was too circuitous for residents.

Lorry drivers who find it convenient to park their vehicles below the bridge, complain that mobile eateries and even a reputed hotel regularly dump their kitchen waste into the still waters at night.

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