It’s been over two months since families in the Narikuravar colony in Pallavaram have been waiting to receive their flood relief amount. “We lost everything in the December floods and we desperately need the compensation,” said S Velankanni, pointing out how dilapidated their houses are.
There are over 350 families living in the colony. Only some of them have received the due amount of Rs. 5000.
S Appa, a metal picker, showed ten copies of his ration card, voter ID and bank account, which he said he has taken to the local Taluk office repeatedly to avail the sum.
“Last week, I went to the office for the fourth time in three weeks. Every time I go there, they ask me submit a copy of the proofs and wait. So, this time I’ve taken a bunch of them for future use,” he said.
Residents also complain about irregularities in civic amenities. D. Soganbabu, another resident, pointed out to a water pump and said, “There are four taps in this colony, and we get water only once in two days. If we go to another area, we are shooed away.” Streetlights and proper roads are the other demands put forth by residents.
Officials from the Saidapet and Alandur Taluk offices claimed they had done their best to ensure the sum had been received by the maximum number of people within the given period, but would ensure the release of the same to the other beneficiaries when elections get over, as directed by higher authorities.
