Citizen connect: Long delayed storm water drain work puts elderly, children at risk in Anakaputhur Balaji Nagar

Due to delay in completing the work, the roads are dotted with several open pits that pose a serious threat to the public, especially students of the private school situated at the end of Balaji Nagar 12th Street and also senior citizens. The incomplete drainage work at the junction also creates problem for the children, who find it difficult to enter the street.

The residents said they do not have any objection to the drain works, it is the delay in completing the work that irks them. They have lodged several complaints regarding this with the officials of Anakaputhur Municipality, and were told that the works were left incomplete due to delay in getting funds.

S Anand, a resident of Third Main Road, complained that the four-feet deep pit close to his house creates threat to pedestrians and motorists, particularly the two-wheeler riders. “As the pit is at the end of the street, most of the motorists do not notice while taking a turn especially during the nights,” he said.

He added that despite lodging several complaints with the Anakaputhur Municipality, officials have failed to take any action to complete the work, or make any arrangements to close the pit.

M Akbar, who uses the road every day while dropping his kid at the school at Balaji Nagar 12th Street, said the children were finding it difficult to walk on the small wooden plank that temporarily covers the pit. “We have to leave the two-wheeler and enter the street only by foot,” Akbar alleged, charging that the work on the storm water drain was getting delayed due to the lethargic attitude of the officials.

The residents who live near the school said they are unable to take out their vehicles, not even two-wheelers, for the last couple of weeks. “There is no other alternate route. We need to cross the road only by foot. I have not been using my two-wheeler for more than 15 days due to the work,” said Anandan, a resident of the street.

Admitting the delay in completing the work, a senior official from Anakaputhur Municipality blamed it on the delay in releasing the funds. He also added that the civic body was facing labour problems. “Once the flow of funds gets normal, all the work will be completed,” he added.