Velachery bypass road to be widened

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JAN. 27. The Velachery bypass road will be widened into a four-lane carriageway at a cost of Rs. 4 crores, officials told representatives of residents welfare associations at a grievance day meeting conducted by the Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations, involving the Union Environment Minister, Mr. T. R. Balu.

Responding to a spate of complaints on water supply and drainage networking, Metrowater Managing Director, Mr. C. P. Singh, said the water headworks at Velachery would be operational by March 16 and networking of distribution by December-end.

Sewer mains and its connectivity would also be completed by March 2002. He however said the city's water storage position was poor following dismal rainfall and residents would have to put up with the inconvenience.

When some resident welfare associations said water charges were collected despite absence of supply, Mr. Balu said residents should understand that alternative arrangements such as supply through tankers were made available. ``Are you attempting to instigate a quit tax payment movement'', he asked.

The Seshadripuram and Sachidananda Nagar residents associations said electric poles on roads remained away from road margins even after widening work. In response, an Electricity Board official said charges for the shifting exercise should be paid by the Corporation. However, he agreed to shift one pole near a school after the local councillor, Mr. P. Dhanasekaran, spoke to him.

Residents of Renuka Colony and Golden Avenue said their postal addresses varied from that on Corporation Property assessment and ration cards and hence it was difficult for them to furnish them as support documents for passport applications. Corporation officials said they should use the assessment address as the ``base reference'' to avoid such problems. The Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations sought cleaning up of the Dhandeeswarar Temple tank and linking of the 7th Main road to the 100ft Road.

Women representatives requested direct bus service to Egmore and Central Station. The Minister however declined to support their demand for a direct route to Poonamallee. The Annai Indira Nagar Welfare Association sought black-topping of roads and an electric crematorium at the burial ground.

Baby Nagar residents wanted manholes on roads to be raised. LIC Colony Nagar representatives said foul smell emanated from the sewer pumping station and residents of Ram Nagar 6th street complained of ground water pollution due to seepage of sewerage from the station.

On missing names in the voters list, residents were informed that an updated list would be published next month and they could verify and then report deletions.

Corporation officials, responding to complaints of stray pig menace said the ``catchers had not contacted them for the last six months.''

Representatives of Lakshmi Nagar Ist Street and Ramakrishna Nagar complained that they had received acquisition notices. The Tambaram MLA, Mr. M.A. Vaidyalingam, assured that he would sort out their problem with the authorities provided they furnished their `pattas' and relevant documents to him.

Mr. Balu also received applications for old age pension and other related demands. The Federation president, Mr. K.R. Subramanian and the general secretary, Mr. S. Gurumurthy, among others spoke.

The Union Minister, Mr. T. R. Balu, listening to the grievances of the residents of Velachery at a meeting on Saturday.

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