Coimbatore: More than 100 residents of Ondipudur protested in front of the East zone corporation office on Tuesday seeking basic amenities such as roads, street lights and drainage facilities. The residents alleged that though their area was under the corporation and their layouts were approved 25 years ago, they have not been provided with even proper roads.
The corporation officials held talks with them and promised them that the work would be carried out soon.
"We have been protesting for over six years. A few months ago, we were even arrested. We have also petitioned the mayor and corporation commissioner many times. But even after all this, our area remains neglected. Be it roads or drains, how is it that projects in our area alone are not getting sanctioned?" asked V Deivendran, president of Surya Nagar residential welfare association.
The secretary of the association D Kumar said that there were over 1,000 houses in the eight colonies that were situated near Surya nagar railway gate in Ondipudur. "There are 11 roads in these colonies which have never been laid. At least a year back, the road was even though it was mud road. But after they laid the water pipelines, they laid a layer of stones that has made the road non-motorable," he said.
The worst affected areas are Surya Nagar, Kamatchi Nagar, Senthil Nagar, Chinnasamy Layout, Shakthi Nagar, CPC Colony, Kanna Nagar and Shivalingapuram.
Apart from the roads, residents said that the street lights in the area were also not functional. "It's very difficult for us to go out in the nightWe have to call up the engineers every time to repair the lights," said Gandhimathi, a resident. She also added that the area had neither underground drainage pipelines nor storm water drains.
The assistant commissioner of East zone, J Ravi Kumar said that the ward 59 where these place were located covered a huge area. "The other wards in Ondipudur, ward 60 and ward 58 were smaller in area. We have sent the proposals for the roads and drains in the area and we are hopeful that it will get sanctioned soon," he said.
The assistant engineer of the ward also said that she would ensure that the roads were laid soon.
The residents said that if roads were not laid before February 29, they would protest again and raise black flags in all their homes.
The corporation officials held talks with them and promised them that the work would be carried out soon.
"We have been protesting for over six years. A few months ago, we were even arrested. We have also petitioned the mayor and corporation commissioner many times. But even after all this, our area remains neglected. Be it roads or drains, how is it that projects in our area alone are not getting sanctioned?" asked V Deivendran, president of Surya Nagar residential welfare association.
The secretary of the association D Kumar said that there were over 1,000 houses in the eight colonies that were situated near Surya nagar railway gate in Ondipudur. "There are 11 roads in these colonies which have never been laid. At least a year back, the road was even though it was mud road. But after they laid the water pipelines, they laid a layer of stones that has made the road non-motorable," he said.
The worst affected areas are Surya Nagar, Kamatchi Nagar, Senthil Nagar, Chinnasamy Layout, Shakthi Nagar, CPC Colony, Kanna Nagar and Shivalingapuram.
Apart from the roads, residents said that the street lights in the area were also not functional. "It's very difficult for us to go out in the nightWe have to call up the engineers every time to repair the lights," said Gandhimathi, a resident. She also added that the area had neither underground drainage pipelines nor storm water drains.
The assistant commissioner of East zone, J Ravi Kumar said that the ward 59 where these place were located covered a huge area. "The other wards in Ondipudur, ward 60 and ward 58 were smaller in area. We have sent the proposals for the roads and drains in the area and we are hopeful that it will get sanctioned soon," he said.
The assistant engineer of the ward also said that she would ensure that the roads were laid soon.
The residents said that if roads were not laid before February 29, they would protest again and raise black flags in all their homes.