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Lack of facilities plagues Mettupalayam industrial estate

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

An apology for a road: A muddy road leading to the industrial estate, Mettupalayam in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: The second oldest industrial estate spread over 50 acres in Mettupalayam is in a dire state of neglect for a long time. The lack of infrastructure such as proper lighting of the interior roads is causing hardship to the workers in terms of personal safety, especially to the 2000-odd women employees.

The estate set up in late 1970’s, has some 230 units and employs 8,000 people. It has no proper roads, drainage facility, facility for storing water, lighting and a proper system for garbage disposal.

Except the 19th cross, which is the main interior road, not a single road is motorable and transportation of goods has become extremely difficult, say members of the Pondicherry Chamber of Industries.

Since the roads are muddy, vehicles carrying heavy materials get stuck in the slush and have to be lifted out. The members complain that it causes lot of inconvenience and the cost of transportation goes up.

They are worried that the situation would be worse with the onset of monsoon.

Lack of drainage facility results in sewage flowing onto the roads hindering vehicular movement, they said.

But the most serious problem is the lack of streetlights. Women employees, who got special permission from the government to work till 10 p.m., feel insecure during nights because of lack of streetlights. Especially after a spate of incidents of robbery inside the estate, their fear has deteriorated. Besides, open manholes pose a great risk to employees.

Adding to the woes, in recent times, the estate has become a hiding place for criminals. Last month, a worker was attacked during the night time and his mobile phone snatched.

The association members say they had given several representations to the government seeking intervention but to no avail. As a sign of protest, the members have decided not to pay maintenance charges.

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