The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Vast constituency with major problems

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 07, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Vast constituency with major problems

K. Manikandan

Absence ofpattas, water, sewage facilities some of the acute problems here Non-issue of landpattas, lack of water supply, sewage facilities some of the acute problems in the constituency

TAMBARAM: Though a vast constituency geographically speaking, the electorate in Chengalpattu constituency is comparatively small. There are just a little over 1.78 lakh voters, with a major chunk in Chengalpattu Municipality and the rest in Mamallapuram, Tirukazhukundram and nearby villages.

But for the urban Chengalpattu, the rest of the constituency is mostly rural in character with the exception of a few pockets at the sea resort of Mahabalipuram and Kalpakkam.

And the dominant problems in the area are lack of land pattas, safe and protected drinking water, sanitation, health and education. The issue of kudimanai pattas for several people in land classified poramboke is certainly bound to be a crucial factor for the electors on May 8. Many families staying in these lands are known to turn up at the polling booths in full measure and their votes would have a decisive say in the fate of candidates in the fray. The other pressing problem in the town is drainage and drinking water in Chengalpattu town.

Lack of a proper sewage disposal system in this town adversely affects the sprawling Kolavai lake. A fresh water lake that serves as a collection area for rainwater from dozens of villages dotting the area, the lake at present has been contaminated by the discharge of unchecked sewage into it.

For residents of Chengalpattu and nearby places it has always been a question of "so close and yet so far."

The lack of Palar water supply is a problem facing the people of villages adjacent to this town.

According to residents while government agencies supply water from this sub-terraneal river to places that are far off, they are not extended the same facility.

Some years ago, more than five people died after consuming contaminated water at Natham village near Chengalpattu.

Residents also complain of rapid depletion in the groundwater table due to the indiscriminate mining of sand from the Palar riverbed.

Hospital service

The most important issue that needs to given priority is improving services and facilities at the Chengalpattu Medical College and General Hospital. The hospital caters to the needs of a lakh of people in Kancheepuram district. Shortage of staff and equipment force most of the rural poor to go in for expensive treatment in private hospitals or come all the way to Chennai for quality treatment. Even the Primary Health Centres in this region are not up to the mark, Mr. Veeran said.

Bad roads have been the bane of this constituency just like others in Kancheepuram district. Despite so many schemes to improve roads, they hardly seem to have made their way into this constituency.

With the development of real estate near Chennai developing all the way till Chengalpattu, it was high time elected representatives brought some genuine urban planning here, electors feel.

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