T.N. Assembly election: Ponneri constituency residents yet to reap benefits of industrial development

Residents of Ponneri seek better infrastructure and educational facilities amidst ongoing civic issues despite local industrial growth.

The Ponneri Assembly constituency in Tiruvallur district consists of 100 villages, with a majority of the population being fishing community, dependent on the sea. However, the constituency has also become an industrial powerhouse with several big industries, including three important power generating stations located in and around Minjur.

While the reserved constituency has several industries, residents have not reaped the benefits, either in the form of employment in the manufacturing units, or any worthwhile projects created from the huge Corporation Social Responsibility (CSR) funds distributed by the big corporations functioning in the constituency.

The constituency consists of a major portion of Ponneri Taluk, including towns such as Ponneri, Minjur, Arani, and Athipattu. It also covers numerous villages in areas such as Thirupalaivanam, Pazhaverkadu, and Kattupalli, with more than 100 villages, including over 50 villages that cover the fishing communities in the taluk.

Social activist M. Abubakkar Siddique pointed out the need for check dams to be constructed in Minjur to prevent rainwater from being wasted, as the Kosasthalai River and the Arani river evacuate into the sea. “Also, the groundwater has turned saline due to the presence of several power stations, and has become unfit for consumption. So if the check dams are constructed across the Kosasthalai River it would improve the quality of the groundwater,” he said.

Mr. Abubakkar, who is also the local area Councillor of Minjur panchayat, wanted piped drinking water to be brought to Minjur and surrounding areas from the Poondi Reservoir or by setting up a desalination plant, which has been the demand for several years.

The villagers in Minjur want speedy construction of the flyover being constructed across the railway tracks. The work on the flyover was being executed at a sluggish pace for a prolonged period and has become a major issue causing traffic congestion. Residents of more than 50 surrounding villages would be using this flyover to cross Minjur.