Manikandapuram in Chennai lacks proper sanitation


Chennai: Residents at the Third Left Street, Manikandapuram in Thirumullaivoyal are allegedly letting the sewage out onto the roads, leading to sanitation and health hazard.

The issue was brought up by Karthick, a resident of the neighbourhood who said, “Private building owners are letting sewage out onto the streets without caring much about the potential health problems that it will create.”

Manikandapuram is situated near Thirumullaivoyal lake and close to Chennai-Tiruttani Highway.

“We asked the owners of the tenements not to do that, but they did not heed our request. We have taken the issue up with the authorities as well,” said Karthick.

With increasing reports of diseases spreading across Chennai even during summer, residents of the street are a worried lot. “We are afraid to let our children out because of this menace. But they want to go out because this is the holidays and they want to play. We do not want them to be affected with any disease,” said residents of the area.

Asked if the problem has been a long-standing one, residents state it occurs from time-to-time and that not much happens even if they complain to the authorities.

“A permanent solution is the need of the hour. We pay taxes and expect proper amenities to be made. What else are we paying the taxes for? We expect authorities do address the issue keeping the welfare of people over a long period in mind. It would be easy to just temporarily do some work so as to stop people from complaining. But the issue would lift its head again. That should not happen,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.

Third Left Street residents expect authorities to address the issue as soon as possible before humans or animals fall ill.