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A laidback living place

Poriyalar Nagar is a safe haven for those who yearns to be far from the madding crowd.

PHOTO: S. JAMES

CALM AND SERENE Attune with nature.

A birds' orchestra, led by cuckoos and crows, offer an aural feast, while the aroma of pollen grains and nectar from flowers, along with a cool breeze, wakes up the families of Poriyalar Nagar even on sultry mornings.

These natural factors energise the residents whose days are `well begun.'

At first look, Poriyalar Nagar is like yet another area in Madurai, especially on the long stretch of Madurai-Natham State Highway. But it has its own credits.

In fact, to put it in a nutshell, Poriyalar Nagar is a paradise in close proximity to the madding traffic snarls of the city. No one disputes this claim.

A team of engineers formed the `Poriyalar Mandram' in 1981 on 50 acres of land and in 1982 the Deputy Director of Country and Town Planning approved the layout of the area.

The mandram, which was registered as a society to develop the needs of residents, purchased the land from an individual in Senthur village of Kannanenthal panchayat, says S.P. Shanmuga Sundaram, secretary, Poriyalar Nagar Residents' Welfare Association.

Well planned

The area has a neatly laid out broad, perpendicular and cross streets, which help the residents to enjoy easy and good connectivity to the city, M. Krishnamoorthy, one of the engineers who drafted the layout, says.

Over a period of two decades, the residential area has earned high accolades from all over mainly due to the efforts of the residents.

The layout consists of 350 plots and nearly 180 houses have been built so far.

The planners have earmarked separate places for schools, hospitals, playground, community centre and for other public utilities.

Since the Poriyalar Mandram became defunct in 1985, the residents formed the Poriyalar Nagar Residents' Welfare Association in 1993 aiming at its development as a full-fledged, self-contained colony, promoting self-reliance and integrity among the inhabitants.

Religious integration

The nagar has a Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and a mosque. There is also a plan to construct a church, the association president, K. Gopalakrishnan, says. He also claims that the area is an extremely safe place to live.

Residents gather at the temple on occasions like navarathri, sumangali puja, pradosham and other religious functions, says K. Vijayalakshmi, the only woman executive committee member of the association.

"The whole area looks like a garden and ground water is so good and is available within 20 to 25 feet," says M.A. Shanmuham, treasurer. The association has made arrangements for regular garbage clearance by panchayat sanitation staff on alternate days.

The major drawback of the area is the absence of underground drainage facility.

S.S.KAVITHA

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