Infrastructure growth not in pace with realty sector

Despite good connectivity, Poonamallee battles a host of issues

With the Poonamallee High Road contributing to good road connectivity, the town and its surrounding areas have witnessed great development in the real estate sector.

However, infrastructure development has not kept pace with the real estate development, say residents.

Despite having a voting population of 3.15 lakh, drinking water and drainage lines are yet to be laid.

Groundwater polluted

Due to the lack of an underground drainage system, untreated sewage is being disposed of in the Cooum river, which has been causing many problems.

Residents of Senneerkuppam and Mangadu have been complaining that apart from polluting the river, it has also lead to groundwater pollution and an intolerable stench.

The sitting MLA R. Manimaran said that a detailed project report was being prepared by Chennai Metrowater.

Garbage disposal too is still a “burning problem” in many places in this constituency that has several famous temples including the 10th century AD Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple.

Waterbodies including the Poonamallee Eri, which is a drinking water source for Varadharajapuram, continue to be polluted with tonnes of garbage.

“The municipality and town panchayats themselves dump garbage along the national highway polluting the environment,” said Kuldeep Sethia, who has been fighting against dumping of garbage by local bodies and industries.

Waste management

The AIADMK candidate T.A. Elumalai said that a proper plan solid waste management in the constituency had been prepared.

“We will keep the pollution under control. The traffic jam inside the town due to the bus terminus is also a problem that has been plaguing motorists and shopkeepers. The road is very narrow at that spot. Shifting it outside could perhaps offer a solution,” he said.

Residents of interior areas complain about the lack of good roads and bus connectivity. Nirmala Gunasekaran, who heads the Thamarai SHG in Annambedu, said the bus service 54-C to their village was stopped three years ago, stating bad roads.

“There is only a small bad stretch but the service is yet to be resumed. Though we have several SHGs in our village we don’t make anything since we cannot travel to Poonamallee, which is 12 km away, for training,” she added.

Lack of drainage, water pollution, untreated sewage, garbage disposal among problems