The memory of a terrible dengue season still haunts the residents of Gnanavel Colony’s East Street in Mariamman Teppakulam under ward 54.
From October 2017, a total of 10 cases were reported from the street with about 30 houses. Little action has been taken to improve the sanitary conditions in one of the central areas in old Madurai, say residents.
Gnanavel Colony has about 120 houses and some spinach farms. A. Radhai, a resident, says that lands around the square-shaped Mariamman Teppakulam transformed into plots post-urbanisation and sold to independent buyers. Though Teppakulam’s heritage was preserved, wide roads and proper sanitation facilities were not given priority.
These spinach fields are irrigated by sewage that flows in the ward. Now, though the sewage canal lacks a steady outlet, it is overflowing onto the roads. Though 10 houses are connected to the underground drainage in the colony, others use septic tanks. The manholes regularly overflow owing to pumping problems. This has been the case for three years, says Ms. Radhai.
Members of Gnanavel Colony Women's Welfare Association have approached the Corporation with several petitions.
The colony is one of the main routes through which other important areas like Sriram Nagar, Malligai Street and North Street can be accessed with ease. With sewage overflowing on the roads, there is a steady stench. The sewage overflow leads to breeding of mosquitoes, thus causing diseases. “During the monsoon season last year, so many people from the area visited hospitals and were bedridden due to easy spread of diseases,” says V. Bhagyalakshmi, another resident.
Petitions have been repeatedly submitted to Corporation Commissioner S. Aneesh Sekhar, Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao and MLA S. S. Saravanan. Corporation officials have assured that UGD lines will be constructed soon. But the delay is causing anxiety.
There are a total of 66 roads in the ward. But areas like Devi Muttu, Sriram Colony, Mariamman Nagar and Manickam Nagar have cement roads that are not wide enough to fit cars.
Residents say that the Engineering department of the Corporation has barely done enough to cover the potholes in the locality.
S. Mahadevan, an autorickshaw driver and resident, says that it becomes almost impossible to navigate through tiny lanes. Only major roads like New Ramanathapuram Road and the one connecting Chinna Anuppanadi with Teppakulam act as major access zones to reach the city. Garbage collection is done irregularly, says R. Seethalakshmi, another resident.
Residents of Tirumalai Avenue say, “Door-to-door collection of garbage in the area is a myth. It is almost impossible to see a dumper bin. Even if we spot one, it should be overflowing.” Many residents are from middle-class background and have access to independent household toilets.
To cater to those from lower economic backgrounds, there are five toilets — four pay-and-use and one for community use. No Swachh Bharat activities have taken place here so far.
The ward is home to several educational institutions. There are two private colleges and six private schools, including Thiagarajar College.
Corporation officials say, “We will look into their plea to keep more dumper bins and accelerate door-to-door collection of garbage. Since the roads were laid many years ago, it is now difficult to widen them. There will be opposition from the residents.”
