Polluting industries make breathing difficult for residents

Chettipunniyam village is situated just opposite to the Mahindra World City near Chengalpattu. The village is famous for its 450-year-old Yoga Hygareevar Perumal Temple which attracts thousands of devoteesevery week.

As it is located nearthe Mahendra World City, several people who are working in the World City have also shifted their residence to Chettipunniyam since it was easier for them to reach work.

Residents here lament that the air at their locality is mixed with the dust as everyday many lorries from the crushing units in Pullipakkam village travel through their roads. The residents also claimed that the lorries are also causing many accidents at the locality.

Pandiyarajan, a resident of Chettipunniyam said, “We suffer heavy pollution on a daily basis affecting the health of thousands of residents especially children ending up with respiratory disorders.”

Another resident, Sairam, who is working at a private firm at Mahendra city said, “Recently I shifted my house to this village since it’s very near to my office. From the time of coming here, I have not breathed fresh air. Even our vehicles are coated with dust from the crushers every few hours.”

Condemning the polluting industry, the residents have protested many times by blocking the roads in the village. They claimed that the heavy lorries were also damaging their roads and the motorists are facing a hard time but no action has been taken so far.

When contacted, the Chengalpattu tahsildar Bakiyalakshmi said, “Soon the problem will be solved, and we have also taken the issue to the district collector.”

She assured that within a month the lorries will be diverted to some other route and clarified that the crushers were functioning on patta lands and that it was not possible to close them.