The Hindu 29.11.2013
Unauthorised digging of roads irks residents
Though crores of rupees were spent by the City Municipal
Corporation for repairing and relaying tar-topped roads, the condition
of the roads remains pathetic as unauthorised digging of roads in
residential areas for laying pipelines and sewer systems remains
unchecked.
Though it is mandatory for residents to
inform the civic body and pay the charges for road cutting and
re-laying, the rules remain on the books as people continue to dig up
roads at their convenience and never restore them to the original
condition. This leaves formation of open pits and it is the road users
who are left to feel the heat, says S. Ramamurthy, a resident of
Mittapudur.
The situation is common in many of the
residential areas as roads have been dug up for laying pipelines or to
connect the house to the sewer system. On Brindavan Road, a pipeline was
laid by a private individual and a speed breaker built on it so that no
damage is caused to the pipes.
Though it is on one
of the busiest roads in the city, it remains unchecked by officials
concerned. Apart from revenue loss to the civic body, the deteriorating
road condition poses hardship to road users in the areas concerned.
Stagnation
of water on roads and unfinished underground sewerage works are giving
bumpy rides to motorists and are also leading to accidents. When
contacted, Corporation engineers told
The Hindu
that causing damage to roads would invite punishment and asked residents
to get permission from the civic body before having any such work
carried out.