This year’s Christmas added a sparkling touch to their lives. After groping in the dark for 28 years, the residents of MGR Nagar here have finally seen light ... at their homes.
Around 54 houses in the locality got their much-awaited electricity connections on Tuesday. Minister M C Sampath flipped on the main switch at a house here on Tuesday night and lighted up the lives of the residents.
As a token of gratitude, the residents decorated the front yards of their houses with rangoli and welcomed the minister, who arrived here to inaugurate the EB connections.
Municipal ward member Anbu, said, “When road extension work took place at Semmandalam 28 years ago, the residents, most of them construction workers, were evacuated. Once the work got over, they came and settled here. But a few people went to the court claiming ownership of the land which forced the people to live without electricity. The case went on for many years. Meanwhile, on seeing the plight of the people, those who went to the court came forward for negotiation talks. After talks, they promised to give land for erecting electric posts.”
Raja, a resident, said, “Because of the dispute, we have been living all these years without electricity and water. Our children studied under street lights and used kerosene lamps. Many children suffered burns due to minor fire accidents. Insect bites were also common here. Now, we have got electricity connections. We would not forget this day in our lives.”