Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Readers' Mail

When will we

get water?

Sir — About two months ago Metrowater made it known through the media that piped water supply on alternate days would be resumed shortly.

It has kept its word in a large measure. But a few residents of Ramaswamy (Naickan) street, Alwarpet (old Nos. 37, 38, 39, 40, 13, 14, 15, 16) do not get water even through hand pumps. This has been brought to the notice of the Assistant Engineer as well as other officials at the Divisional Office (No. 142). These houses are located in the middle of the street.

We have represented the matter several times to Metrowater officials who say that due to low pressure, the water does not reach our houses.

They say the matter will be looked into. Much time has elapsed, but still the above houses are yet to get piped water.

However, Metrowater did supply water through tankers several times after we complained over thephone.

Nobody really why our houses are not getting water.

It could be the low pressure or the alignment of the pipes in the area.

We request the authorities to do the needful in this regard.

A.M. Manoharan,

Alwarpet

Resume work or

demolish pillars

Sir, — Work on the construction of the Perambur flyover has been at a standstill for the past two years, with the authorities giving one reason or the other. In these days of modern technology, it is surprising that a solution has not been found. Previously there was smooth flow of traffic both ways. The flow is obstructed now because of the incomplete pillars. If the construction of the flyover is not possible, at least let the existing pillars be demolished, paving the way for two-way traffic as before.

As a temporary measure the portion on the left may be blacktopped and a parapet may be raised on the unused side so that at least two wheelers can use the same.

A traffic signal with a timer facility should be installed near the junction.

S. Seetha Lakshmi,

Perambur

The use of headlights

Sir, — This has reference to the news item `Road accidents rise in city' in The Hindu of January 7.

There are several reasons for this sad state of affairs, apart from rash and negligent driving.

The first and foremost is the lighting on the roads - which is either poor or too bright. Being a motorbike rider between Mount Road and Manali New Town daily, I experience the negative effects of both.

On most days, the road lights do not work from Ernavur bridge to Tamil Nadu Petrochemical Limited on the expressway. After that there is no road light till Manali New Town. Even the checkpost near Tamin Granites does not have permanent lighting.

On the other hand heavy vehicles, which make up the biggest number of vehicles on this route, and cars use dazzling headlights; the drivers neither dim their lights nor do they dip them.

This results in blinding the drivers of vehicles coming from the opposite direction, causing accidents.

The authorities must insist on one half of the headlight being darkened with black paint, which will help to reduce accidents at night.

S. Sekar,

Manali New Town

Overburdened schoolchildren

Sir, — This refers to the news item, `Success stress proves fatal to children' (The Hindu, Jan. 23).

The popular Tamil saying `Alavukku minjinal amirthamum visham' (`even a good thing given in excess, will turn poisonous!) is something we all are familiar with.

Under the present educational system, children have to carry a big load of books to school, not to speak of the back-breaking homework. Parents, anxious to see their wards do well, tend to push them to concentrate more and more on their studies. When will the children get to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life?

K. Vasu,

Ambattur

Streetlights do

not work

Sir, — The entire stretch of road from M/s. India Shoe Company, Ramapuram, up to Sabari Nagar Junction (Mount-Poonamallee Road) is shrouded in darkness as not a single sodium vapour bulb in any of the 10 electric posts works. Although this fact was highlighted in the same columns of The Hindu in May last, no tangible action has been taken in the matter.

Will the authorities concerned do the needful at least now?

A. Rathinam,

Porur

Road shrouded in darkness

Sir, — The stretch of road in Manavalanagar, Tiruvallur leading to the Chennai-Chengalpattu highway along the train track towards Arakkonam is shrouded in darkness after dusk. The commuters who alight at Tiruvallur railway station find it very difficult to negotiate the street because of this. We request the authorities concerned to install lights on the electric posts that have already been erected.

N.B.S. Manian,

Secy., residents' welfare assn;

Manavala nagar,

Tiruvallur

Foot overbridge badly needed

Sir, — For long, there is no foot overbridge (FOB) at the Hindu College railway station on the Chennai-Tiruvallur line. A Government College, ITI, FCI, HVF, CVRDE and private industries are located near the station, and the students and other rail-users cross the tracks at grave risk.

Most of the commuters do so to go to the Hindu College bus stop. Those who come from the south of the station, cross the track to take trains to go to Central station, Secretariat, Government hospital, Perambur and the Loco Works. It is necessary to construct a foot overbridge at the Hindu College railway station at the earliest.

K. Nagaraj,

Tiruniravur

More bus services

needed

Sir, — I request the MTC authorities to introduce bus services from the Central Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) to Tiruvottiyur and Ennore on the PP138A route. From Agaram, the buses can go via Kolathur, Rettai Eri and then through the 100 Feet Road, culminating at the CMBT. This route will cater to the needs of commuters from Sharma Nagar and other areas, which are not covered by the present MTC bus services.

Y. Makhbool Khan,

Perambur

Restore bus

service

Sir, — The MTC should consider restoration of bus services on Route 18N to link Nanganallur, with Tambaram directly. No bus link exists between Tambaram and Nanganallur now. While restoring the service, the route may be shortened by taking Thillaiganga Nagar subway to touch GST Road and then straight onto Minambakkam instead of going towards Guindy through the Chennai Race Course (as was being done earlier) to reach Tambaram. The earlier route was circuitous and hence needless.

Quilon S. Krishnamurthy,

Nanganallur

Lack of an English guide

Sir, — Recently I secured a property tax guide. I was surprised to find the entire book was in Tamil. When I made enquiries I was told there was no English version of the guide.

The same is the case with assessment orders. Chennai, a cosmopolitan city is the third biggest metro in India. I have seen self-assessment guides for Bangalore. These guides are also available in English. English is still the language that unites India.

I feel the Corporation would do well to publish Property Tax Guide books in English too as it will also help several inter-state and international investors to invest in properties in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai.

K.V.S. Krishna,

T.Nagar

Dog menace in K.K. Nagar

Sir, — The stray dog menace on the 63rd street, 10th Sector in K.K. Nagar West is getting worse.

The hundreds of schoolchildren, women and elderly pass through this area with trepidation, praying that they will be left alone by the dogs.

S. S. Ramanathan,

K.K. Nagar (W)

Rainwater harvesting

Sir, — Rainwater harvesting has been made compulsory for all. Last year the city had good rainfall between Oct. 1 and Nov. 6.

The rainwater could meet water supply of one crore people for over 590 days. On Nov. 6 alone the city received 84 mm rain, which is enough for 134 days.

Will the TWAD Board and other departments that laid down rules for domestic rainwater harvesting system agree to a public audit and prove their bona fides in conserving rainwater?

K. K. Lakshmanan,

Adyar

An unseemly practice

Sir, — Pallbearers, carrying the mortal remains of the dead for burial/cremation, burst crackers on the roads, while those accompanying the bodies pluck flowers from garlands and scatter them indiscriminately.

They often fall on passers-by and vehicle users.

A few of the mourners even pick up quarrels with the public.

This leads to unpleasantness on narrow roads during peak hours, putting the public to inconvenience.

Many do not like it when the flowers fall on them.

The Police Commissioner and traffic authorities need to act to check this practice.

N. Vijayaraghavan,

West Mambalam

Stop this

nuisance

Sir, — It is deplorable that the right side of the western end of Kavignar Bharatidasan road, Teynampet, towards Anna Salai, is being used as an open-air toilet.

The stench that pervades the spot is enough to send pedestrians and two-wheeler drivers scurrying.

I request the authorities concerned to keep the place clean and take stern action against those who commit nuisance along the stretch.

Md. Hashmathullah Sayeed,

Mylapore

MTC should restore service

Sir, — Buses on route No.37C plying between Vadapalani and Villivakkam have been withdrawn abruptly.

Commuters are now forced to take bus 37 B to Ayanavaram and from there take another bus to Villivakkam.

This entails additional expenditure and waste of time.

Will the authorities kindly restore the 37C bus service immediately?

P. K. Kalyana Raman,

Villivakkam

Direct bus

service needed

Sir, — There is no direct bus service from Vadapalani to Kelambakkam.

Since a number of I.T. companies are situated in Kelambakkam, we are wholly dependent on bus Nos. 118 and 119 which ply via Perungudi.

But both route buses are very infrequent.

Since the Government is doing everything possible to make that part of Chennai an I.T. corridor,

I request the MTC authorities to introduce a direct bus service from Vadapalani/ Koyembedu to Kelambakkam with immediate effect.

B. Sriram,

Virugambakkam

Increase bus

service frequency

Sir, — The frequency of bus services on route No.51, from Saidapet to Kolathur is very poor. Girls studying at schools in Saidapet and the sick who need to go to hospitals situated along the route suffer greatly because of this.

The MTC should increase the frequency in the public interest.

A. Sanjeevi,

Selaiyur

Corporation `open house'

Sir, — It is unfortunate that `open house' meetings are not being held by the Corporation like the Metrowater does every month.

This kind of meetings will enable the residents to narrate their grievances and seek appropriate remedial measures in respect of various problems like non-burning streetlights, bad roads, removal of garbage and eradication of mosquitoes.

I request the Commissioner of the Corporation to hold such meetings.

C. Jayachandran,

Purasawalkam

Crack down on stray dogs

Sir, — The number of stray dogs in T.Nagar, particularly in and around Pondy Bazaar area is increasing by the day due to the apathy of the Corporation authorities.

This area has many shopping centers and schools. It is high time the authorities took steps to rid the area of stray dogs.

D. Krishnaveni,

T.Nagar

Cats in

hospital ward

Sir, — Recently I went to the railway hospital, Perambur, to see my mother-in-law who was being treated for a heart ailment.

She had been moved to ward No. 6 from the Intensive Care unit.

There I was shocked to see five to seven giant sized cats roaming around freely. Further, the ward has no facility for the attendants of patients to spend the night.

They have to sleep on the floor along with the cats. Will the hospital authorities take steps to remove the cats from the premises?

A. P. Sarathy

Ambattur

Subway necessary

Sir, — The Ivan Stedford Hospital in Ambattur, caters to the needs of the residents in and around Ambattur.

Every day, scores of people visit the hospital for treatment.

But since the hospital is situated on the Chennai-Tirupati Highway (NH205), patients find it very difficult to cross the road because of heavy traffic.

It will be helpful to the public if the authorities construct a subway to reach the hospital.

T. Gunaseelan,

Ambattur

A problem of mosquitoes

Sir, — The residents of Gandhi Street (off Vinayagam Street) in Virugambakkam and its surrounding areas are forced to live with a mosquito problem.

The problem is so bad that the residents are afraid of contracting illnesses through mosquito bites.

The use of mosquito repellent is not of much use given the proliferation of the insects.

The Corporation officials should take immediate remedial action.

V. R. Raghuraman,

Virgumbakkam

CMWSSB reply

In reference to the item published in The Hindu on November 22, 2004, the Public Relations Manager, CMWSSB, Mr. P. Swaminathan writes:

Please be informed that water supply through lorries and water tankers has been arranged for the Sidco Nagar area where there is no piped supply.

Also, the water supplied through tanker lorries is adequately chlorinated.

(Letters for this column can also be sent by e-mail to letters @ thehindu.co.in with full postal address. They should be marked ``Readers' Mail'')

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