More than four months ago, on a rainy evening, a 45-year-old man died after he fell into an open drain in a by-lane near Kuravankonam junction. The work of placing new concrete slabs over that drain, located along the stretch of the road through the Yuvathara Garden Residents’ Association lane, had reached halfway when that incident happened.
Now, even after four months of that incident, the work is still midway despite assurances from civic body authorities that it will be completed within no time. No new slabs have been laid after the accident. Even the spot where the accident happened remains uncovered. Open drains, which are several feet deep could still be seen running for a few hundred meters, till the Kaavu road junction.
“We have been raising this issue even before the accident. The work was taken up due to constant demands. But, it did not progress beyond a point. During rains, the water level in the road and in the drain is of the same level. Accidents can happen again. Due to the depth, it is more dangerous for children,” said Kurian C. Abraham, president of the resident’s association.
With the area being located a lower level compared to surrounding regions, there is high level of storm water flow through these drains even during small rains. According to Corporation officials, the work for the initial amount of funds allocated has been completed. For the rest, a new estimate has been prepared and work will begin soon.
Complaints
Residents have complaints about the completed portions too, as the slabs are a few inches higher than the road, posing difficulties when two vehicles pass each other through this narrow road.
Several projects for constructing new drains and to cover existing ones are currently ongoing in various wards in the city under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme, but open drains on many roads still remain, posing danger to the lives of pedestrians.