Areas off the city’s IT Highway including Perungudi, Kandanchavady and Kottivakkam might have the fastest and best internet connections in town, but they still do not have access to basic infrastructure including piped water supply and sewage connections. Residents of several apartment complexes in Kottivakkam in ward 183 have put up banners saying they will not cast their votes this time if the prospective candidates do not give an undertaking in writing that these facilities will be provided.
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“Even if they do not get elected, they can still put pressure and get this work done. Residents of OMR and other areas that were annexed to the Chennai Corporation have been paying water tax for over 10 years now, but to no avail. We are holding meetings and sending messages over social media, requesting residents to join this campaign and we see a lot of positive response. Close to 10 apartment complexes have put up such boards,” said a resident, who refused to be named.
D. Raman, Confederation of Sholinganallur Assembly Constituency Residents Welfare Associations, said that residents were forced to pay ₹2,000 – ₹2,500 per load of drinking water and pay upto ₹1,500 to remove sewage using septic tankers. “The quality of groundwater in areas, including parts of Puzhudhivakkam, Ullagaram and Madipakkam has depreciated due to the untreated sewage water seeping in or being let out on roads and empty plots. To add to this, the leachate from the Perungudi garbage dump also seeps into the ground. The water quality in these areas must be tested,” he said.
L. Sahana, a resident said that a 100-bedded hospital with ob-gyn facilities was necessary on Rajiv Gandhi Salai since people in nearby areas have to travel all the way to GH or Kasturba or Royapettah for government facilities.
M. Arumugam, who is contesting in ward 183 under the DMK party symbol, said that the first task for the councillors to be elected would be to ensure implementation of drinking water and sewage line schemes. “We have been given the task of working among the people and getting to know the problems of each nook and corner by Chief Minister and party president M. K. Stalin. We will continue the good work that this government is known for,” he said.