CHENNAI: Lost in the din of the RK Nagar by-election contest among heavyweights from various parties are the real issues for which locals seek lasting solutions. Will someone please address them?
For starters, the biggest problem is environmental degradation that affects health, since RK Nagar houses part of the stinking Kodungaiyur dumpyard - the other part is in Perambur constituency - that is often set on fire producing thick, pungent smoke for weeks on end.
“The stink is unbearable. Also thick smoke emanates frequently because of fire in the dump. They cause several health problems,” lamented Rajesh, a local resident. Several people suffer from lung infections more often due to the smoke, he pointed out.
Second, health and hygiene remain a far cry for the poor in the constituency. Without a big government hospital there, the poor have to go to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital for any specialised treatment.
Third, driving on arterial roads in RK Nagar is a nightmare for motorists. With frequent traffic snarls, students, office-goers and labourers suffer the worst during peak hours.
R Venugopal, a resident of Washermanpet, said, “Not a day passes without heavy congestion on the main roads. Traffic snarls happen frequently.”
Vehicles inching ahead is a common sight on several roads, including Tondiarpet High Road and Ennore High Road.
Fourth, there is an acute lack of quality potable water. Residents complain that water supplied through pipelines is contaminated, forcing them to purchase it from outside at high cost. “We have to pay Rs 8-10 for a pot of water supplied by private operators. The water supplied through the pipe is of poor quality,” Valli, a resident of Korukkupet, lamented.