The November 2015 floods that ravaged Thoothukudi will cast its shadow on the Assembly election as the ravage remains green in memory of people in many residential areas. Engulfed in water, residents took to the roads condemning the Thoothukudi Corporation for lack of underground drainage system and quick response. The Thoothukudi floods did not get as much attention as the Chennai floods and hence relief was not quick.
Even though Thoothukudi, the sea gateway of Tamil Nadu, was upgraded as a Corporation in August 2008, it is still lagging behind on all fronts. Inordinate delay in execution of underground drainage in Thoothukudi Corporation has irked the people by and large. Though the project was taken up in 2007, there is no sign of it heading for completion.
Despite being a port city, Thoothukudi has not developed to its full potential. Thoothukudi district was carved out of Tirunelveli on October 20, 1986. Since then, Thoothukudi, the headquarters, has not witnessed even basic development after 28 years. People are sore that the civic body is not able to meet even the essential drinking water need.
At present, drinking water is supplied once in eight or ten days. Worse is the condition of nine new wards from five village panchayats, which were annexed to Thoothukudi Corporation in 2011. The fourth drinking water pipeline project, which should have got over in 2015, remains incomplete.
Further, people are exposed to hardships due to poor road infrastructure and lack of public hygiene. Promises made by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the run up to the 2011 Assembly election to bring a fly-over on Palayamkottai Road, sub-ways at first and second railway level crossings and also to establish a new integrated bus stand in Thoothukudi remain on paper.
Fishing provides the lifeline for people of costal hamlets in Thoothukudi. A majority of mechanised boat fishermen have been demanding ‘stay fishing’ to economically support their livelihood.
The trade bodies are eagerly looking forward to expansion of Thoothukudi airport. But it is not sure whether the district administration has acquired land for the purpose. Moreover, industrialists feel that there is no sign of industrial development even several months after the much publicised Global Investors Meet organised by the State government in Chennai. The Thoothukudi-Madurai industrial corridor has not taken shape as nothing has happened to bring industrial investments.
The State government has already announced the setting up of 100 MLD desalination plant at two locations in Thoothukudi to provide water for industrial purpose but no such development has happened.
