Crumbling TNUHDB tenements put lives of residents in danger

Recurring collapses at TNUHDB houses in Chennai highlight poor conditions, prompting plans for reconstruction by early 2025.

Recurring incidents of ceiling and wall collapse at the houses constructed by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) in Chennai have exposed the poor condition of the decades-old tenements and put the lives of residents in danger.

In one such incident, a 48-year-old resident of the TNUHDB tenements at Srinivasapuram sustained injuries after a portion of a concrete balcony fell on him. According to a senior official from the city police, A. Mohan, who had been residing with his family on the second floor of the 29th block, was working as an electrician. He was standing on the balcony of his house when the balcony overhead collapsed on him. The incident took place around 10 p.m. on Sunday. He was rushed to the Government Royapettah Hospital by neighbours. Subsequently, a case was filed at the Foreshore Estate police station.

It was at the same Srinivasapuram tenements that a tragic incident occurred on December 5. S. Syed Ghulam, 23, who resided in the 6th block, was killed after a concrete slab from the window of the 133rd block fell on him. Following his death, the residents staged a road roko.

In yet another incident, a portion of the damaged concrete ceiling of a house at the TNUHDB tenement on Brindhavan Street in West Mambalam collapsed on Saturday. V. Manibharathi, a resident, said: “The incident took place on the ground floor of the 9th block. My neighbour Vijayakumar had a narrow escape when he stepped out just before the ceiling collapsed. We have raised the issue of poor infrastructure several times with the officials but continue to await a permanent solution.” The houses were constructed over 50 years ago, he added.

Vanessa Peter, founder of Information and Resource Centre for Deprived Urban Communities, said the TNUHDB should take up a proactive role in expediting the reconstruction of dilapidated tenements by facilitating inclusive and participatory planning. She also said the State government should evolve a robust quality assessment mechanism to monitor the TNUHDB tenements periodically.

A senior official from the TNUHDB said steps were taken to reconstruct houses under 10 schemes in north Chennai this year. A proposal would be chalked out to take up the reconstruction of tenements at both Srinivasapuram and West Mambalam after conducting an evaluation by early 2025. The residents of the dilapidated tenements would be asked to vacate as the reconstruction would take nearly 18 months to complete. The government would release a one-time ex-gratia of ₹24,000, he added.