CHENNAI: Civic problems and poor management of the floods in colonies in the city's north-western fringes have left the residents seething.

This came to the fore when several residents of East Mogappair held an protest last week. Their grievance: sewer lines were blocked and floodwater was flowing into their homes. Further, sewage was getting mixed with stormwater and well water at some places. with well water.

"Sewage water has got mixed with well water, making it unfit for use," said Fathima, a resident.

East Mogappair falls under Ambattur municipality. Councillor T.R. Sukumaran initiated steps to cut the road at Paari Salai and let out water from around 400 houses to the playground on the other side. But then residents of the ward prevented the draining of water.

N. Ayyanar, a party activist, said drains were getting choked by water drained from major residential areas in Kongu Nagar, Panneer Nagar and Mohan Ram Nagar. Several Metrowater and municipality pumps were used to drain out water. Residents of Golden George Nagar protested against water being let into their area.

An Assistant Engineer of Chennai Metrowater said the problem was because the groundwater level was now the same as the road level. With heavy inundation in Panneer Nagar, Mohan Ram Nagar and Kongu Nagar and resultant road cuts and impromptu stormwater drains to channelise water, sewage lines are clogged. Metrowater has been working round-the clock and making arrangements for supply of drinking water through lorries.

With the recent rain, residents of East Mogappair who have been suffering bad road conditions and lack of other amenities for long now, have come up a with a slew of demands — that the Government act on a war footing to provide proper roads, which would not be frequently dug up by the Electricity Board and Telephones, and also proper stormwater drains and sewage connections.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail