Roads, water supply remain priorities for Zone-IV residents
The Hindu
The zone comprises wards 28 and 29, 36 to 43, 52 to 55 and 57 and covers areas including Andipalayam, Murugampalayam, Rayapuram, Veerapandi, Iduvampalayam and Karuvampalayam. A total of 1,97,540 voters are present in Zone-IV, which is 27.32% of the total electorate of the Tiruppur Corporation.
In 2011, the erstwhile village panchayats of Andipalayam, Murugampalayam and Veerapandi were merged with the Corporation. However, these areas did not get the facilities from the Corporation compared to other parts of the city for over a decade, alleged S. Velmurugan, a consumer activist based in Andipalayam. Many of the roads that were dug up for various works have not been repaired by the Corporation, posing a threat for pedestrians and motorists alike, he said.
Supply of drinking water for most parts of Zone-IV remains erratic as the water is available only around once in 10 days, which causes inconvenience to residents who go out for work during the day, Mr. Velmurugan said. “Whenever this issue is raised, there is no proper response from the Corporation,” he alleged. Underground drainage project is yet to be completed in several areas of Zone-IV and improper collection and disposal of waste cause health hazards, he further claimed.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.