CHENNAI: More than 600 residents of Nolambur, near Mogappair, from varied backgrounds and age groups, staged a hunger strike on Friday for a road. The protest was held at a venue opposite TI Cycles factory, Ambattur from 10am to 5pm.
The residents demanded that Sri Ram Nagar Main Road be laid and said the 150m-long road has been a problem between them, Chennai Corporation and private land owners for seven years. "The road is the cause of all our problems," said G Suresh, president, Federation of Nolambur Residents' Association. "A school van with kindergarten children got stuck in a dump here two weeks ago and several of them fell. Some even suffer from spondylitis because of the travel."
For more than 10,000 residents, this road is the only access to West Mogappair. It is now overflowing with sewage as the drainage system is also broken, the residents complain. "Our children are hospitalised often with infections due to the mosquitoes that breed because of the sewage. It needs to be cleared immediately," said Shivakumar Anirudhan, a resident.
At least three parties claim ownership to different parts of the road. While the corporation acquired one part for Rs 87 lakh a year ago, it hasn't reached a settlement with other parties. "We can't lay a road in an unapproved layout. An affidavit has been filed in court. Rules don't allow the corporation to negotiate with the private owners or acquire the land directly. Residents can approach metrowater to fix the sewage line provided the private owners agree," said a corporation official.
If no action is taken even after their protest, the residents have threatened to boycott the general elections.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Nolambur-residents-fast-for-road/articleshow/32878417.cms
The residents demanded that Sri Ram Nagar Main Road be laid and said the 150m-long road has been a problem between them, Chennai Corporation and private land owners for seven years. "The road is the cause of all our problems," said G Suresh, president, Federation of Nolambur Residents' Association. "A school van with kindergarten children got stuck in a dump here two weeks ago and several of them fell. Some even suffer from spondylitis because of the travel."
For more than 10,000 residents, this road is the only access to West Mogappair. It is now overflowing with sewage as the drainage system is also broken, the residents complain. "Our children are hospitalised often with infections due to the mosquitoes that breed because of the sewage. It needs to be cleared immediately," said Shivakumar Anirudhan, a resident.
At least three parties claim ownership to different parts of the road. While the corporation acquired one part for Rs 87 lakh a year ago, it hasn't reached a settlement with other parties. "We can't lay a road in an unapproved layout. An affidavit has been filed in court. Rules don't allow the corporation to negotiate with the private owners or acquire the land directly. Residents can approach metrowater to fix the sewage line provided the private owners agree," said a corporation official.
If no action is taken even after their protest, the residents have threatened to boycott the general elections.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Nolambur-residents-fast-for-road/articleshow/32878417.cms
