Disappointing suburban CMDA layouts

Despite all the hype about life in the suburbs among sylvan surroundings, lakes, birds and bees, the reality can be very different.

This is what the owners and residents of Jeeva Nagar, a layout not far from the Sri Ramachandran Medical College and Research Institute in Kattupakkam - Mangadu have found.

They have been petitioning the Kancheepuram District Collector and the Mangadu Panchayat, about the abysmal state of civic facilities in their low-lying plots, which become inaccessible at the first hint of rain.

Here is their letter published in The Hindu
today.

Just to make it easier, the text is also reproduced here:

Civic works in Jeeva Nagar

The residents of Jeeva Nagar, a CMDA-approved layout in Kattupakkam just off the fast developing Mount-Poonamallee Road (PPD LO No. 134/2003 and Survey Nos. 558/2B2, 559/2, 561/2 and 562 of Mangadu Village) are awaiting civic works to be undertaken, to overcome problems of severe monsoon flooding, lack of basic roads and street lighting.

The Mangadu Panchayat, which has jurisdiction over the layout, has said that it is considering these development works, and tenders are being processed, which is a commendable step.

We would like to point out that optimal utilisation of the allocation can take place only if the road level in the layout is raised through addition of debris (which is readily available from nearby encroachment demolition work carried out by official agencies in December 2006). This would bring the Jeeva Nagar ground level on par with adjoining Badrimedu ward and AUDCO Nagar.

During 2005 and 2006, Jeeva Nagar remained inaccessible for nearly four months because of flooding, release of sewage from adjacent wards, lack of roads and total darkness at dusk. As a result, house-building activity came to a halt and the panchayat suffered revenue loss.

While thanking the Kancheepuram District Collector and the Mangadu Panchayat for their initiative, we appeal that they make the best use of funds by ensuring at least four feet road height, and provision for laying of drinking water pipelines along all interior streets.

S. Ramkumar,

President

Jeeva Nagar Owner's And Residents Welfare Association

Kattupakkam.

These residents also maintain a blog to highlight their issues and have put up a slideshow on the post-monsoon situation.