Decades ago D’Monte Colony was a street with a row of identical pretty houses with neat little gardens. But now, with the entire stretch full of dilapidated, unkempt houses and gardens filled with snakes and mongoose, the street sports a spooky look.
This has also emboldened urchins and vandals to turn it into a haven for illegal activities. Workers who have taken up jobs with the corporation or elsewhere have even put up shanties within the compound of the dilapidated houses.
“They take bath in the open there, defecate in the premises and carry out normal day-to-day activities. Though we feel sorry for them, it is not correct to allow them to stay here this way,” remarks a resident of Abiramapuram IV Street — the arterial road which divides the colony into two.
Park
Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Park, a little lung space in the heart of Alwarpet, located on D’Monte Colony, is frequented by a number of residents. But they are unable to approach it with ease as the entire stretch of the road has turned into an illegal parking area for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, water lorries, call taxis, engineering college buses and tourist vehicles. Building materials are all the time strewn on streets. During the day, one can see workers cutting iron rods or bamboo for construction on the middle of road.
Another hurdle they face is at the junction of D’Monte Colony and the busy Abhiramapuram IV Street. Road side vendors have put up make shift stalls along the main road. The roadside eateries attract a number of customers throughout the day. Any time of the day along the main road or on the abutting Colony, one can see people holding a platter of food and eating.
The shops also sell tea, candies, cigarettes and biscuits. People who drive by the main road are tempted to have a cup of tea here. They too add to the mess as they ease themselves there. A fact that embarrasses women. “It is not eve-teasing but other factors that make us avoid the area,” say some of the women who regularly use this road to reach TTK Road.
“Vessels are being washed, men stand on the platform and smoke making things difficult for wom0en to approach the park. Sour milk is thrown indiscriminately on the platform raising a stink,” says Padmaja, a resident of Abiramapuram IV Street.
Mona, another resident of the same street, laments that they are plagued with the problem of rodents which are attracted to the food waste that is left around the colony by these shops.
Says Sridar Chandrasekar, another resident, “The vendors have taken over the entire D’Monte Colony. The sales go on up to 8 p.m. and the thriving business has brought down the serenity of the neighbourhood.”
According to the people of the area these shops were earlier located on the adjacent TTK Road but as they were asked to move from there, they slowly occupied D’Monte Colony. With the number of shops increasing, they may take over the entire colony one day, feel the residents.
