Expectations run high in Srirangam consequent to the victory of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa from the constituency and her party returning to power in the State.
The island town that lies sandwiched between the Cauvery and the Coleroon Rivers has been languishing for long without major development, despite its stature as a major tourist and pilgrimage destination in the region.
While the elation among the party cadre is all too apparent and understandable, residents of Srirangam too are delighted over the triumph of Ms.Jayalalithaa. “We were happy to have a chief ministerial candidate here. Though her victory from Srirangam was expected, we are glad that her party too has achieved such a big victory. Now we expect much from Ms.Jayalalithaa in terms of developing her constituency as she has also come to power,” said N.Malathi, a resident of the town.
Most of the expectations and demands from the residents revolve around infrastructure in the town. Residents point out that the road network in the town has to be improved and strengthened. The town attracts pilgrims and tourists right through the year. But for the Amma Mandapam Road, the town lacks good roads especially in the interior parts. The Thiruvanaikovil Trunk Road, especially the road over bridge near Periyar Nagar, remains a major bottleneck. Though a project to widen the road and the road over bridge was approved, it is yet to see the light of the day.
The town also has several newly added areas and almost all of them lack basic amenities such as roads, lighting and drainage. Housing projects, seeking to exploit the aspirations of senior citizens and NRIs to settle down in the ‘Bhoologa Vaikundam' and NRIs, have mushroomed in the town in recent years. The civic infrastructure could not match such rapid development. Residents also cite the lack of a proper bus town and parking space for tourist vehicles.
With a substantial part of the constituency being rural, farmers seek steps to ensure assured irrigation. The Kattalai High Level Canal, between Mayanur and Thayanur, should be modernised to ensure assured irrigation for 11 months a year, says R.Subramanian, deputy secretary, District Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association. Apart from paddy, cash crops such as banana and sugarcane are raised in a large area within the constituency and its adjacent areas.
Farmers have also been worried over the depleting water table as the Cauvery bed is being heavily exploited for numerous drinking water schemes and also on account of the rampant sand mining. Farmers also hope that the jasmine perfume extraction plant, promised by Ms.Jayalalithaa during her campaign, would become a reality soon.
A cross-section of both the rural and urban voters also expect to reach out to the Chief Minister directly with their grievances and demands for appropriate action.
