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Several development works mired in delay Z0ne in

K. Lakshmi

Ambattur Municipality is a massive industrial hub and equally massive are its problems

— Photo: K. Pichumani

EYESORE: The clogged flood water canals lead to inundation during monsoon in Ambattur Municipality.

CHENNAI: From being a small panchayat until the 1960s, Ambattur Municipality has emerged as a massive industrial hub and a preferred residential locality in the western suburbs of Chennai.

The special grade municipality, one of the largest local bodies in the State, spans over 40.36 square kilometres. The 52 wards together have a population of nearly 4.50 lakh.

Besides the Ambattur industrial estate, the areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the municipality extends up to Mogappair and Anna Nagar Western Extension abutting the city. Two major infrastructure projects in the municipal limits — the upcoming 3-km elevated corridor as part of the bypass project between Tambaram and Madhavaram and the proposed widening of Chennai-Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road — are also making more people flock to Ambattur.

And it is not just the CTH Road that cries for attention as Ambattur Municipality has often been known for its bad roads, on which accidents are not uncommon.

Lack of drainage system

While welcoming the development projects, many residents said the area continued to lack water supply network and proper garbage clearance. Ambattur is yet to get an underground drainage network for which a proposal was submitted to the State government a decade ago.

Residents said the first phase of the underground drainage project taken up about three years ago in 19 wards ran into problems after contractors abandoned it . This resulted in several residential buildings releasing their sullage into the open stormwater drains or in nearby waterbodies such as Thangal lake in Vijayalakshmipuram.

S.Venkatesan, a resident of Elango Nagar, said the open flood water canal was often clogged with plastic waste. As the area lacks a drainage network, sewage overflow on the streets is a common feature.

Resolutions on various development works are approved by the council every month. But, many of them remain on paper. Several projects initiated over the past few years, including one to provide canopy at the Ambattur OT bus terminus and the rehabilitation of the Mangal Eri, which is one of the waterbodies in the area, have been delayed. Councillors pointed out that many civic works being implemented by the municipality were stuck at various stages as there were either no takers for the projects or the contractors’ demand more payment during the implementation. There is not enough municipal staff strength to supervise the progress of the projects.

Solid waste management

Solid waste management is another issue confronting the municipality. With the Athipattu dumping yard running out of space, the local body has been in search of land for setting up a compost yard.

V.Rajagopal of Mogappair said that garbage clearance had not seen much improvement even in wards where the conservancy work has been privatised.

Residents were often exposed to health hazards as it took four to five days in several localities for the garbage piled-up at street corners to be cleared.

Municipal officials said when they attempted to set up small sheds to compost garbage, it was opposed by the residents. The approval to provide the earmarked land at Kuthambakkam near Poonamallee for use as compost yard is expected in a few days.

General secretary of the Central Forum of Registered Welfare Associations of Ambattur V.Mohan said: “Like me several people settled in Ambattur in the 1960s as the area had copious ground water. With the development over the years, the situation has changed and most of the residents depend on private water suppliers. .”

The association members said a full-fledged government higher secondary school and a government hospital would benefit the residents who in the absence of the facilities are forced to travel to Chennai.

Municipal Commissioner V. Chakrapani said that several civic projects were set to start in the coming months as the problems with the contractors have been sorted out. While the second phase of the underground project would be completed by November, fresh tenders are to be floated in August for the first phase.

The detailed project report for the water supply scheme being prepared by Chennai Metrowater would be completed this month.

Steps are being taken to strengthen the stormwater drain network and also construct SWD wherever necessary to avoid inundation during monsoon, he said.

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