Unscientific digging for a stormwater drain project and leaving the work halfway for a month is posing threat to the foundation of many buildings and also causing transportation problems.
Beginning of the excavation work for the drain project initially cheered the residents and the shopkeepers alongside the Raja Street in the ward as they have been waiting for a comprehensive solution to the water stagnation during the monsoon.
But their joy ended as soon as the pits were dug with the works stopped abruptly.
“Not only that the project has been stalled halfway but also one can see how illogically the digging been done.
“With works abandoned, people cannot even get out of the houses properly and a few of the residents staying on rent vacated the place. The shopkeepers are putting some iron strips to help the customers come for purchase and two of the customers of one shop even fell down into the pit losing the balance,” pointed out N. Paari Ganapathy, a businessman residing in the area.
People in the area also pointed out at some of the buildings where the irrational digging had affected the foundation.
PipelinesBesides, the water distribution pipe lines were broken in some stretches while digging the pit. Due to this, mud and waste water get mixed with the drinking water.
D. Prashanth, who works as a tailoring supervisor in garment sector, said the problems had been raised on umpteen occasions with the ward councillor but there was no end to the woes.
Official versionWhen contacted, Ward 30 councillor M. Sabareeswaran told The Hindu that steps would be taken to revive the project immediately.
“The works stopped only because the contractor deserted all of a sudden,” he added.