Overflowing drains and stagnant sewage rooms have been a constant source of problems for the residents of ward 84, which comprises vantage areas near the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
For last 15 days
Persons who run small businesses and shops on North Masi Street said that sewage water remained stagnant on the road flanks for the last 15 days.
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“Nothing has been done to clear the roads and the water has turned green due to the growth of algae. Customers are very hesitant to enter our shops and just walk away,” rued R. Murali, who owns a shop.
Residents of bylanes, who use a common hand pump and tap on North Masi Street, are forced to draw drinking water by placing their buckets and pots on the stagnant dirty water.
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“As a makeshift arrangement, we have heaped sand and gravel near the entrance of our shops so that the sewage water moves away. But this is only a temporary solution. The stench becomes unbearable after a while and it is unhygienic to carry on business here even if we sit inside our shops,” a shopkeeper said.
Councillor Rajeshwari Govindan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said that the drainage pipes in the area were very old.
“The corporation, however, has taken note of the situation and sanctioned new pipelines. Work on a new drainage line is going on, though at a slow pace,” she said.
The residents had another grouse. Many streets in the ward have battered roads due to digging for the new drainage lines.
“This area is frequented by a lot of people owing to its proximity to the temple and the bad roads put people to so much inconvenience. Sewage overflowing on North Masi and North Avanimoola streets as well as Chappani Kovil Street has been a continuing problem in the last few years,” said K. Vaidehi, a resident.
Shopkeepers bear the brunt
On Swami Sannidhi Street, a narrow road with shops selling flowers, groceries and domestic needs, the battered road has caused many accidents during the rainy season.
“The road is full of potholes and water stagnates till the knee during the rains. There have been many instances of senior citizens, cyclists and rickshaw drivers falling down on this stretch,” said P. Senthil a shopkeeper.
Jakir Hussain, another trader, said that the storm water channel in the street had been blocked.
“Make it fit
for use”
“Before laying the road, the corporation must clear the storm water channel and make it fit for use. Despite numerous complaints about the potholes, work to rectify it has only been done in patches, which has not solved the problem,” he said.
“Tying to make area better”
When asked about the issue, Ms. Rajeswari said that she had taken note of the bad condition of roads. “Since this ward has more commercial establishments than houses, we are trying to make the area better for them.
The corporation too should give this area extra attention as it is near the Meenakshi temple which is visited by hundreds of tourists every day and will reflect on the city as a whole,” she said.
The residents further called for the immediate removal of debris of the demolished Kunnathur Chathram on East Avanimoola Street, a dump yard of sorts with stagnant water, which has led to mosquito and hygiene problems.