Chanakya road measuring around 500 meters with a width of 40 feet in Nolambur was been laid with blue metal wet mix around two months ago. The nearby residents of Nolambur stating the reason that there is not even a single person residing in Chanakya Road stopped laying of road. They also added that there was no necessity of relaying or repairing Chanakya Road when there are many roads fully populated with residents in Nolambur being unrepaired and not re-laid.
Residents in the nearby area say that the contractors, labourers and staffs of Corporation of Chennai initially refused to stop laying the blue metal wet mix. Later a crowd of residents including social activist Mr.V.Selvakumar’s interference had stopped further laying of blue metal wet mix.
When we contacted Selvakumar to know the reason for obstructing laying of road, we have understood from his words that corruption has played a major part in laying this particular road. He also added that a huge apartment has been planned to come up in a vacant land measuring around 33 acres at Union Road in Nolambur, which was earlier called as Tamil Nadu Brick Chamber. The front edge on the southern part of the proposed land is opposite to Cooum River, lacks proper approach road from Poonamalle High road, and faces a major drawback in commercial aspects.
Selvakumar adds that due to the above-mentioned reasons, the promoter of the apartment has procured few grounds of land adjacent to the northern part of the proposed land. The third party land newly purchased by the promoter has an approach on Chanakya Road; residents say that this road could be used as the main approach road for the proposed apartment. Selvakumar says that since Chanakya Road has been proposed as a main entrance for the apartment, the promoter of the apartment have influenced the authorities and elected members of Corporation of Chennai to lay Chanakya Road.
We contacted Mr. Kumar, Assistant Engineer, Ward 143, Zone 11 of Corporation of Chennai to know the facts about the newly laid blue metal wet mix road. Kumar explains us that the road was laid without the permission of the Corporation of Chennai. He also said that the residents association of Chanakya Road has laid the road. We would wish to add that Chanakya Road is surrounded only with vacant land and no permanent construction has been made by any of the land owners. As this is the case we are not able to understand the words of Kumar, how residents association had laid the road. We questioned Kumar whether any complaint has been made with the police department in regard to the trespass by the residents association for laying road without the permission of Corporation of Chennai. Kumar accepts that they have not filed any police complaint so far.
Looking at the oral statements given by Selvakumar, Social Activist and Kumar, Assistant Engineer, Corporation of Chennai, it creates a suspicion whether corruption would have played a vital role with the elected members and authorities of the Corporation of Chennai.
It is to be noted that Mrs. Nirmala Immanuel is the Councillor of Ward 143 and her husband Mr.Immanuel was an Ex-Councillor of the then Ambattur Municiplaity. Many complaints had been earlier sent against Nirmala Immanuel and Immanuel to The Office of the Chief Minister and AIADMK Headquarters about the corrupt practices and other attrocities of them both. An year ago Nirmala Immanuel and Immanuel were summoned by the AIADMK Headquarter and were severely warned for their corruption practices among their ward. Immanuel was arrested few months ago for bruttly injuring a Cheenai Metropolitian Water Supply and Sewage Board labour.
Hope the Chief Minister, Minister of Local Body, Authorities of the Corporation of Chennai, Authorities of The Vigilance & Anti-corruption would initiate necessary action to nab the culprits involved in laying of the unapproved blue metal wet mix road. Residents of Nolambur expect Corporation of Chennai to initiate action to repair and relay damaged roads in residential areas and main roads.
