The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : MLA listens to residents' grievances

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MLA listens to residents' grievances

Staff Reporter

Promises action on water supply

CHENNAI: The Villivakkam MLA, B. Ranganathan, has assured residents of Padikuppam Road in Ambattur municipality that their infrastructure problems, including water supply and sewage disposal, would be addressed soon.

Addressing a meeting in the area on Saturday, he said he would submit a proposal to Metrowater to provide piped connections for water supply.

The meeting was organised by the Five Star Apartments Residents Welfare Association on behalf of nine welfare associations of Padikuppam Road.

At present, water is being supplied by Ambattur municipality through lorries, which, residents said, was sub-standard and insufficient. Metrowater and Ambattur municipality have been at loggerheads over this for several years now.

Residents pointed out that Tiruvaleeswarar Nagar had Metrowater supply and a pipeline was provided to the residents adjacent to their colonies, which could be used for connection to their houses.

They also said that water was going waste because of a leak in the pipeline on the main road.

Mr. Ranganathan said he would take up the issue with Metrowater officials.

On residents' complaints about frequent sewage block, he said that the sewage was disposed of through open drains and promised to upgrade the capacity of the pumping station.

The conversion of 200 metres of overhead cables to underground electric cables, an issue pending for more than a decade, was also raised at the meeting.

When the residents complained of irregular garbage cleaning, Mr. Ranganathan suggested privatisation of garbage disposal by local SHGs and residents welfare associations.

The issue of the hike in rent for people residing on lands belonging to the Sivan temple also came up. Residents said the rent had been hiked abruptly toRe.1 per sq.ft.

Mr. Ranganathan said that several areas including Gandhi Nagar, Kamaraj Nagar and Periyar Nagar encroached upon temple lands.

After an hour-long argument between the residents and the MLA, it was decided that the matter would be taken up with the officials next month.

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