The Hindu: Chennai: Sunday,
March 23, 2014.
What
individual associations cannot do, a group of them does. K. Sarumathi on what
Virugambakkam Residents’ Association has done for the area
They were
once scattered groups, each working for their own area’s welfare. While some
managed to make a little difference, others were not as successful and fell
into a slumber soon. But, working as separate teams, none could imagine
bringing about a big change in its neighbourhood. Then in 2007, one man thought
of bringing all of them together and thus was born the Virugambakkam Residents’
Welfare Association, an umbrella body for various residents associations in and
around Virugambakkam.
“When we
started, ten associations joined hand. Today we have 23 active associations
registered with us and one representative from each is a member of the parent
body. Together, we take up issues concerning residents of Virugambakkam. We go
beyond streets and focus on issues common to the entire neighbourhood,” says
Arumai Nathan, founder president of the Association.
The first
issue they took up was the widening of Kaliamman Koil Street. The stretch is a
vital link road connecting Vadapalani, K.K. Nagar and adjoining areas to Anna
Nagar via Koyembedu. The proposal to widen it was mooted by the CMDA in its
first master plan, but it still remains the Association’s distant dream.
Next, the
Association was successful in getting a railway reservation counter at
Koyembedu bus stand. “Earlier, people living in and around Virugambakkma had to
travel to T. Nagar or Egmore for railway reservation. The counter at Koyembedu
now caters to their need.”
Another major
success of the association was getting the sewage plant at Koyembedu
strengthened and the addition of one more to address the drainage problem in
Virugambakkam.
“The drainage
problem is acute here. During the rainy season, drinking water gets mixed with
sewage. Also with more flats coming up in the area, the old pipes are unable to
manage the flow of sewage and it often gets blocked and overflows on to the
road. The distance between Arcot Road and Koyambedu also adds to the problem.
In 2008, we filed a petition and got the main plant at Koyembedu strengthened
and an additional one built. We also asked for four mini pumping stations to
increase the flow and address the overflow issue. One is now being built at
Gandhi Nagar,” says another member.
The members
are now lobbying with the Corporation to get the Primary Health Centre at
Natesan Nagar to function as a speciality hospital for women and children. At
present, it operates for half a day and provides only pre-delivery and post-delivery
care. “We want it to become a 24-hour hospital taking emergency delivery cases.
Of the seven grounds earmarked for the hospital, only one has been utilised for
the building,” says Arumai Nathan, who places a lot of faith in the RTI Act and
says the association has filed over 500 petitions on various issues.
Among others,
the association is also working on the Virugambakkam Canal issue and has been
instrumental in getting walls constructed on the bank of the canal. “The wall
is yet to be constructed in some places and the work on diverting excessive
water from canal to Cooum has to be taken up. We are following the issue
closely and hope for its early finish,” he adds.
While each
association is encouraged to take up issues pertaining to their streets
themselves, when they are unable to find a solution, the umbrella organisation
gladly offers support.
(At
Downtown Cares, resident welfare associations can discuss their neighbourhoods.
These associations may write to us at downtownfeedback@thehindu.co.in or call
us at 28576631, seeking a meeting.)
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