Chennai: “Hello, does anyone know that we exist here?”- This is the cry of Saraswathipuram residents, who feel that they are neglected in all aspects.
Speaking about the civic issues in the locality, Prabhu, a resident, says, “There is a canal in our area, that flows from the Thiruneermalai Eri. Whenever there is rain, the excess water from the canal, that is already filled with garbage, overflows into nearby homes. Even after a light shower, the streets of Saraswathipuram get flooded with a mix of rainwater and sewage.”
The residents also request the concerned officials to construct a bridge over the open canal, so as to ensure easy access to the main road, and to prevent people from falling into the waterbody.
Lakshmi of the same neighbourhood, opines, “It is a struggle everyday to cross this space and reach the other side, as most of the children in our area, study in the school that is in the main road, on the other end. As of now, we are all forced to walk on the rocks that are placed in the corner of the pathway. Despite this, accidents occur here, as children or the elderly tend to miss their balance.”
Listing out their grievances, Karthick, another resident, says, “We don’t have proper roads, street lights are not working and there is no safety. A lot of people consume alcohol and misuse the buildings that are being constructed in the area, while garbage is not being collected on a timely basis. Also, there are a lot of stray dogs too, which bite passersby. We want the government to take necessary action to solve our problems.”