Mayor comes on line as Kanchi locals snub hubby

CHENNAI: Exasperated over Kancheepuram Corporation officials failing to repair the overflowing under ground drainage (UGD) even after 20 days and repeated complaints, residents staged a road roko on the Hospital Road on Tuesday. The protesters got agitated after the Kancheepuram Mayor failed to visit the spot and made her husband to talk with them over the phone.

According to the protesters, they have repeatedly approached the civic officials over the UGD leakage on Kottai Kollai Subbarayan Street, that has left the street flooded with sewage, but failed to elicit any proper response.

On Tuesday morning, the residents blockaded the Hospital Road and raised slogans against the corporation. On information, Vishnu Kanchi police visited the spot and held peace talks.

They promised to take action and also arranged for sewage collecting lorries to clear the area. However, the protestors were not ready to give up the protest without getting a confirmation from the corporation officials. They said they are protesting for a permanent solution.

Later, Kancheepuram Mayor Mahalaksmi Yuvaraj’s husband contacted the protesters over the phone and promised that the issue will be sorted out. This made the protesters even more angry and they asked Yuvaraj to disconnect the call as he is not the right person to address their queries.

After a few minutes, the Mayor herself contacted the protesters and apologised and said she would take immediate action to repair the drainage. She said she couldn’t visit the spot as she was out of town.