Residents appeal for help as battered road, overflowing sewage haunt them

They complained that the damaged underground drainage lines were blocked at many places of Pallavaram, leading to sewage flooding the streets for the past two months.

Residents claimed that the wastewater was also being mixed with the drinking water. “The situation is worse at Bhavani Nagar in Nemilichery as most of the UGDs in the locality are damaged and blocked,” said Dinesh, an activist.

Residents added that it is unhygienic and children often fall sick after stepping in the water. Residents of Natesan Nagar said that it feels like living in a pool of drainage.

“Though we have raised several complaints, municipal officials have not taken any actions yet. Childen, and even adult, often fall sick and the officials have to take necessary steps to make our lives better,” John Thangaraj from Natesan Nagar said.

Residents pointed out that the damage of roads has increased due to stagnant water and vehicles plying through it. Adding to the woes, residents also complained that the officials even failed to repair the streetlights in the vicinity. “The street lights in the area do not function and no one comes to fix it,” Dinesh pointed out. “We had filed a petition to the Chief Minister’s cell, but we did not get a response. Officials are hesitant to come to our place,” he added. The MTC bus service to Nemilichery was stopped completely due to the bad condition of the roads.

When contacted, the Pallavaram municipal engineer R Ravichandran said, “The pipes are damaged in many places and we are trying to fix them. The problem will be solved soon.”