Coimbatore: Vacant lands in thickly populated residential area have become shelters for poisonous snakes and stray dogs at Pankaja mill road in Ward 69.
There are two stretches of vacant land measuring four acres on Pankaja road. One belonged to Airports Authority of India and the other is owned by a private real estate firm.
“Residents on Pankaja road are worried about these stretches of vacant land, which has no compound wall with overgrown bushes providing an apt shelter to poisonous insects and snakes. The place even draws illegal activities,” said K. Nagendran, a resident of Ramanathapuram.
A few years ago, a man was found death inside the bushes, he said.
“We have sent many representations to the corporation asking to clear bushes, but we were told that as the land was owned by private, they could not do anything,” he added.
Though dog menace was reported in most of the areas, it was acute on Ramanathapuram due to the availability of wastes in vacant land dumped by roadside eateries. Huge quantities of waste attract dogs from many parts of the city.
“Residents of the area have petitioned the Corporation Commissioner many times, but all requests have fallen on deaf ears. So far, no sincere attempt has been made by the corporation to control dog menace,” said N. Ravi Sankar, another resident of Ramanathapuram.
“I have written many letters to the corporation administration about stray dog menace. The corporation plans to clear the bushes in vacant lands as soon as possible,” said T.J. Selvakumar, AIADMK councilor of Ward 69.
