Citizen Connect: Despite complaints, stormwater drains clogged for many months, say residents

“I made repeated personal and formal requests to the Pallavaram Municipality officials to remove the garbage. But the officials refuse to clear the garbage and are apathetic to the situation,” M S Vaidyanathan, a resident of New Colony, said. Vaidyanathan said that open stormwater drain at the intersection of First Cross Street and First Main Road in New Colony is the worst affected.

“I raised a complaint using the toll-free number of the municipality (1800 425 1600). Even though they take complaints and send compliant number, they do not clear the garbage. Recently, a few employees of the municipality came to the spot. But they refused to remove the garbage claiming that the cars parked near the drain hindered their work,” he added.

According to Vaidyanathan, he had made his first complaint nearly a year ago on March 22, 2018 and made two more complaints till April 2, 2018. “However, the problem remains unattended till date.”

The residents also allege that the owners and drivers of rental cars park vehicles on the street and hinder the works. As the officials are failing to take action, the residents are forced to spend their own money to clear the garbage.

“Some residents from nearby areas dump waste on our street during the night and we could not stop them. I spent more than Rs 1,000 on two occasions to clear the garbage. Our neighbour had also spent money from his pocket. But, how many times do we do it,” Vaidyanathan asked.

He also pointed out that Pallavaram Municipal Commissioner at an interaction with the resident welfare association members, two months ago, had promised to clear the stormwater drains but the official apathy continues.

Meanwhile, a municipality official said that they would take action to remove the garbage.