Residents fear a Mugalivakkam repeat at Sathuvachari TNHB flats

Twenty-five years on, owing to lack of maintenance and poor budgeting for minor repairs the officials now live with fear that the flats –highly dilapidated - might crash any day.  

The ‘C’ and ‘D’ type houses, endured the worst, where water seeps through walls and floors is a common complaint in most of the structures. *Saraswathi (40), one of the residents of the TNHB flats, said “it is common to see water leaking down the wall whenever the residents on the floor above, use the bathroom. Despite several complaints, no action has taken by the officials concerned.” 

Another resident, on condition of anonymity, said “so dilapidated is the condition of our house, that we fear for our lives and sleep in the hall instead of the bedroom. When we sought a shift to a better house, housing board officials said the houses available were reserved for higher income groups. Also, no repairs have been carried out, to this day.” 

The worst affected are bathrooms and kitchens as water would be used frequently in these areas. The kitchen of a ‘C’ type house had a sagging roof, whereas in some houses, pieces of plaster from the ceiling regularly falls into dishes. Though their houses are situated on the banks of the Palar, they get only stinking water. 

“The condition is so bad that foul smell emanates from those clothes which are washed in that water. So, most of us use fragranced detergents,” said *John, an employee at the Vellore collector’s office. Residents attribute the bad quality of water to the lone ground level well, which was being used to dump plastic waste and other trash. 

“Adding to this, anti-socials and tipplers also urinate into the well as it is not maintained,” say residents. The water’s surface is covered with green scum. Though the well has a mesh cover, the absence of lock makes it easy for anybody to open and dump anything. The cracks on many portions of the buildings provides for growth of vegetation. 

“Though the damaged walls are papered in many places, they give away with time”, said *Janardhanan, another government employee. Asked about this, TNHB officials said they were constrained by lack of funds. 

“We are allotted around Rs 50,000 for repairs and told to prioritise the drain-related complaints” said the EE (in charge) from Kancheepuram as the regular incumbent has gone on sick leave.

“Last year the whole state was allotted Rs 20 crore for such work and Vellore received a paltry Rs 60 lakh, which was used for other pending work” he added. 

“Another complication is that major repairs can be undertaken only after the building completes 30 years and the phase III complex is only 28 years old” he said. Regarding plaster falling from the ceiling, he said “this cannot be stopped by re-plastering but has to undergo tight sealing, for which funds are a constraint.” 

Thus, while officialdom talks and dithers about rules, those living in such houses fear a repeat of Mugalivakkam.