Buddhar Nagar residents petition to Coimbatore district collector seeking basic amenities

COIMBATORE: Around 70 people from Buddhar Nagar in Karamadai petitioned the Coimbatore district collector on Monday demanding basic amenities like water, electricity and roads.
The residents said they were issued pattas way back in 1996. They managed to move in 2002. However, they still live in “extremely backward circumstances.” The residents they walk at least one km to fetch drinking water. With no electricity being available, they depend on kerosene lamps at night.
The residents said the government issued pattas to around 287 families, who were from Mettupalayam, in 1996. The pattas were for a land measuring around 1.5 cents each. “However, the land was acquired from an individual. But the person claiming to be the original land owner went to court against the acquisition. In 2002, we again got a favourable judgement stating that the land belongs to us patta holders,” said joint secretary of Buddhar Nagar Residents Welfare Association, J P Nagendhran.
“Even when that the landowner kept harassing us, we managed to build mud houses, thatched roof houses and now even half concrete houses,” he added.
“Due to lack of electricity connections, we depend on kerosene lamps at night. At night, we all leave our houses, take our straw mats and sleep together in one part of the area, because we find it easier to commonly light it up and ward off lizards, insects and snakes,” Gandhimathi Rajan said.
The school going children are most affected. During exams, many children are dropped off in their relatives’ houses, which have electricity. “Many of our children prefer staying in school, finishing their homework and then returning home, even if late, because they can’t do their homework at home,” said Shanthi Appusamy, who has four grandchildren living with her.