Residents in the neighbourhood of Chennai Silks in T.Nagar have requested the local administration and State government agencies to direct their efforts towards relieving their plight. On Saturday, a team of officials started compiling the names of affected residents to offer them alternative accommodation owing to the rising pollution in the area.
Residents of an apartment complex adjacent to the premises of Chennai Silks were asked to vacate the premises after the fire. Police personnel reportedly advised them to leave their homes immediately. But the residents were not offered alternative accommodation.
“After the fire, the police forced us to leave our homes citing our safety. But the government should have given us alternative accommodation before asking us to leave our homes. They should have asked the violator to offer alternative accommodation to the affected residents. The accident is because of a major violation of the development regulations by a commercial establishment. Just four families are staying in our apartment right now. Others have been forced to vacate,” said a resident.
“We had 28 families in our apartment complex. Following the fire, many of us experienced what homelessness is all about,” said Shiva, a resident of Pinjala Subramaniam Street.
Water scarcity
“We have been unable to cook food for the past few days. We have no water supply. We booked a Metrowater lorry on May 25. We are yet to get the supply,” said S. Radha, a resident. Metrowater officials claimed the police refused entry for the lorry to supply water to residents of the street.
“We received help from our relatives, who permitted us in their homes. We had to return a few days later. On the first day, neighbouring commercial establishments refused us entry. So some residents went to Natesan Park. Even the Corporation refused us entry and asked us to vacate the park. So a few of the residents were waiting on the pavement an entire day,” said Malarvizhi, a resident of an apartment complex.
The residential apartment complex was reportedly weakened owing to Chennai Silks’ construction activity that violated norms in the past few years. “We have been fighting for justice for the past few years against the violator,” said Ms. Malarvizhi.
Residents said the pollution levels had also increased on Saturday owing to the demolition of the unauthorised building.
