Chennai: Shoddy re-laying of roads causes water to enter houses

CHENNAI: Despite the Madras HC passing a directive for re-laying roads after milling the existing roads, work is being shoddily being carried out in different parts of the city. The level of the newly laid roads has become higher than the level of houses. As a result, water enters homes every time it rains. Residents are irked about the issue.

From near Sadasiva Nagar to Tharamani road levels have been raised over the years. Due to this, the houses are now at a level lower than the roads. The problem occurs when roads are re-laid over existing roads and this is an issue across the city. Many areas suffered during the floods due to such issues. Residents in Korattur also face similar issues where the metro water pipelines have gone way below the level of their houses.

To adjust with the road level, residents suggested increasing the height of the water pipeline. “Due to this road level rising each time roads are laid, during heavy rains, the rainwater gets mixed with the sewage water which became a big problem,” said Sindhuja, of Todhunter Nagar in Saidapet, where she has lived for eight years.” “We have also asked the govt to increase the height of pipeline so that by raising the roads in flood times the water, can flow along through the pipeline,” added Sindhuja. According to the officials of Sriperumbudur constituency, people do not construct houses as per the fixed road level and the old houses in some localities are below the fixed level.

“Roads are re-laid measuring the fixed level of the road. Old road is scraped off before a new road is laid, only if it will raise the level of the road beyond the fixed level,” the official said.

(Inputs from Sangeetha Thiagarajan)