Manali, the least populous among the 15 zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation, has become notorious for its industrial pollution and has been ravaged by natural disasters. As a result, population density remains low in the zone.
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A section of the residents, most of them original inhabitants of agricultural settlements, continued to do farming even after the area was brought under the Corporation limits. The zone has a large number of wage labourers and a few tribal people.
The eight wards in the zone cover a vast area but some of them have less than 5,000 voters as against the average of more than 30,000 voters in many other wards. A few days of campaigning for the civic polls has shed light on the inadequate civic infrastructure and the challenges faced by the residents in getting welfare assistance from the government.
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While other zones have benefited from smart city and other civic infrastructure projects, Manali continues to be neglected with many pockets yet to get proper toilets or public health facilities. C. Ettiyappan, who belongs to the Irula tribe and lives in Ward 16, said his house in Sadayankuppam near Manali New Town was flooded with waist- deep water during the recent monsoon. Whenever water is released from the reservoirs, the zone is flooded for several days. “During the election campaign, we have asked the candidates to give us road connectivity, stormwater drains, bridges, toilets, hospital and community halls. In the 10 years after being brought under the Corporation, infrastructure has not improved. Our women need better toilets. If the Corporation constructs a community hall, we can stay there during the floods,” said Mr. Ettiyappan.
Lack of toilets
The tribal women use public toilets. As there are not enough number of toilets, men are forced to defecate in the open. This despite Chennai has been declared “open defecation free”.
None of the tribal people here have been able to get government jobs. They expect the new councillors to coordinate with the Corporation officials and facilitate welfare measures.
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Bridge work
V. Muthusamy, DMK candidate in Ward 21 in Manali, said the bridge work by the Corporation in Amulavoyal and another bridge by the Highways Department across the Buckingham Canal should be completed to improve transport connectivity.
“Residents are taking a circuitous route, covering 6 km. The bridge has been delayed for many years. Industrial units such as CPCL and MFL are polluting the area. They took land from us. But the industrial units do not give jobs for local residents, whose forefathers gave land for the industries,” he said. D. Vijayakumar, BJP candidate in Ward 21, said he would provide houses for the poor under the PM Awas Yojana. “We have started NEET coaching and IAS coaching for the poor students. Tailoring training for women has started,” he said. G. Balaji, Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate in Ward 18, said the original residents of the State should get their rights in employment in industrial units and housing schemes. M. Socrates, AIADMK candidate in Ward 22, said Chinna Sekkadu, which was a town panchayat before being merged with the Corporation in 2011, was yet to get better roads, water supply and underground drainage system.
The Kodungaiyur dump is right on the banks of the canal. | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
“Our area had mango farms and paddy fields 50 years ago. After the commissioning of industrial units, the agriculture activities have stopped. But residents don’t enjoy the benefits of urban planning and development. The Kodungaiyur dumpyard is in close proximity. Kodungaiyur canal and other waterways have to be desilted and maintained ahead of the monsoon,” said Mr. Socrates.