Chennai: Lack of local body representative in the area has the residents of Ambedkar Colony, K K Nagar, running from pillar to post for basic amenities.
Six months ago, Chennai Corporation constructed 17 toilets for families living in the area on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai. But they opened the public toilets without proper water pipelines.
Residents allege that the Corporation opened the building six months ago and closed it right before election time.
“We have been going to the Corporation office and asking the officials to install water pipelines to the toilets. But they are not responding,” said N Abraham, 29, a resident of the area.
Residents allege that when they asked the officials to complete the water pipeline work, they told them to carry water if they wanted to use the public toilet.
Abraham added that they have constructed only 17 toilets for 2,000 people living in the area.
The lack of a Councillor has made the officials lethargic in completing the work, allege the residents.
People have to go to nearby open fields, which belong to Metro, to answer nature’s call.
Women are most affected and it is also a safety issue for them. In the time of eradicating open defecation, lethargic work by officials leaves us no choice, added Abraham, a cab driver in the locality.
Another complaint was that the officials do not clear the garbage bin regularly and people dumping wastes on the road.
“The colony is located in a prime area but that still doesn’t make the Corporation keep the area clean,” said Praveen Kumar, a painter.