Poonamallee: Once paddy patch now a bustling town
Chennai: Poovirundavalli, popularly known as Poonamallee, was a quiet, remote village till the 1980s, where paddy fields and open wells were prevalent — but with CheÂnÂnai expanding PoonaÂmallee is now a prime area where budget homes are coming up without solution to civic woes.
The fields and wells paved the way for plots during the late ‘90s and now the plots are converted into budget homes with the price hovering around Rs30 to Rs50 lakh. But the locality falls short in various aspects, particularly civic amenities.
Located adjacent to CheÂnnai corporation, the PooÂnamallee municipality is dogged by a plethora of ciÂvic woes. The first and foremost thing that bothers the public at Poonamallee is the traffic jam on the trunk road, especially just outside the Poonamallee bus depot. Saravanan, an auto driver, says, “Every morning and evening, the traffic is annÂoying. It takes more than half-an-hour to cross PoonÂamallee border as many loÂng-distance buses park aloÂng the roadsides to pick up passengers.”
However, the commuters boarding buses inside the depot have others reasons to worry, as the sanitation inside is appalling. “Spaces were earlier allocated for fruit vendors inside the deÂpot. Now they are an open toilet, making the whole place stink,” complains Ravichandran, a commuter. “The scenario inside the depot makes us fear that we would contract infections and the stench from the stinking depot hits you,” he says.
Motorists have more things to worry about apart from the choking traffic – the stray cattle menace poÂses a clear and present danger. Feeding his goat tied to a rope in front his home, Dhanraj says no one cares to regulate the problem. “The police are not cooperative in helping new people entering the municipality. Then, how can we expect them to help save cattle,” he rues.
“The rain is most unÂwelcome here where once cultivation thrived, as inundation plagues the roads,” he says, adding that the civic body must look into the problem at the earliest.
Traffic police, howeover deny the allegations, as they find that the situation is quite manageable. They have adequate strength to tackle the traffic during peÂak hours, they claim.
Commissioner B.V. SurÂendra Sha seemed to have solutions for the plethora of civic issues at Poonamallee. “Around '140 crore has beÂen allocated to lay storÂmwater drains and the project is in its final phase of execution,” he said.
“The traffic congestion will also be addressed as meÂetings have been held with various authorities on the issues. Encroachments will be removed so that pedestrians get space to walk,” he assured.
High-mast streetlights, biomethanation plants are also awÂaited in the municipality. “As a part of beautification, a green belt will be created for 600 metres by planting 1 lakh saplings on the roadside and other areas.”
Poonamalle chairman G.R. Thirumalai said new techniques for managing solid waste are on the list. “GarÂbage will be compreÂssed and taken away for recycling. The undergroÂund drainage system was announced by the government will materialise soÂon,” he added. “As long-distance buses must compulsorily pass through the depot, it will clear the roads,” he said.
“The area has historical significance as PoonÂamaÂllee is believed to be the birtÂhplace of Thirukatchi Nambi Alwar, a staunch devoÂtee of Varadaraja PerÂumal. It needs better civic planning,” says octogenarian R. Ranganathan who often sings bhajans in temples located in Tiruvallur district.