Residents of the thickly populated Ward 9 of Kavundampalayam are badly in need of proper drainage system, patta for their lands, and a compound wall.

Even as we enter the residence of Thenmozhi, a rat crosses our path. The rat was from the sewer that remains incomplete for years. Water was overflowing from the drains. M. Thenmozhi says, “The sanitation seldom clears the garbage regularly. The problem has worsened now in MGR Nagar. Workers turn up once in a month and clear only the areas near the main road and ignore our colonies. There is an acute shortage of workforce. Mosquitoes and rats live freely and fearlessly everywhere. A proper drainage system is very important for us. We have lodged complaints but there is no response from the officials.”

P Saroja, a senior citizen, sits down on the road in Ambedkar Nagar to talk to us. Her house had collapsed when lightning struck it. She says, “I have been living in my relatives’ house for the past three years. Since my house is in the slums, the government had announced some discounts to renovate it. But, I haven’t received any. Moreover, about 1000 houses in Ambedkar Nagar haven’t got the Pattas for the past 35 years. In all these years, the officials haven’t taken any steps.”

The house of E. Uma is located on top of the drainage canal in Ambedkar Nagar. It would have been much better if the corporation had constructed a compound wall, but didn’t. She says, “When it rains, sewage waters enter our houses. The public toilet is located right next to our house. The municipality staff never cleans the toilet. We have made repeated requests to the councillor to solve our problems.”

M. Rajendran, the councillor of Kavundampalayam Ward 9, says that he had addressed a number of grievances of the ward residents. “The government had sanctioned Rs.3 Crores to construct roads. There were no street lights before. Now we have put them up. I have also constructed a foot path in Mettupalayam Road for Rs.56 lakhs. Also, now there are public toilets in Ambedkar Nagar and Anna Nagar for Rs.12 lakhs. Anna Nagar also has a bridge now. We have plans to construct a drainage system in Ambedkar Nagar. The government had announced subsidy of Rs.4000 to each of the families involved in making pots in Indira Nagar. Pattas are pending for 1000 families in Ambedkar Nagar and I am taking steps to resolve the issue.”