Residents of Kazura Garden in Neelankarai are facing a multitude of daily hardships due to the stalled progress of two major infrastructure projects. The Kazura Garden Welfare Association (KGWA) have pointed out that various government departments – the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), and TANGEDCO – are engaging in a blame game, leaving residents to suffer the consequences.
The construction of the two projects, the stormwater drains (SWD) project by the GCC and new sewerage lines by CMWSSB, has been significantly delayed. The SWD work, which began in January 2025 with a promise of a 20-day completion timeline, is still incomplete, even after seven months (around 20% of the work pending). Similarly, the sewerage line project, which started in 2024, has been at a standstill for several months (nearly 30% pending).
According to the KGWA, the delays have devolved into a cycle of finger-pointing:
- GCC attributes the delay to TANGEDCO’s alleged non-cooperation in moving electricity cables.
- CMWSSB blames the non-completion of the storm drain project by the GCC.
- TANGEDCO initially cited a delay in receiving funds from the other two departments, an excuse that reportedly continued for months even after the payment was made.
The prolonged delays have created severe problems for the residents, as outlined by the association. The area has no proper roads, with deep potholes and ditches making it dangerous for pedestrians and impassable for school buses, cars and water tankers. The water supply is erratic due to frequent pipeline damage from the ongoing work. The TANGEDCO department has also been blamed for erratic power fluctuations that have damaged household appliances. Additionally, residents are struggling with a lack of streetlights and a street dog menace.
In a letter to government officials, KGWA President Srilakshmi Mohan Rao stated that the association has repeatedly met with senior officials, including the TANGEDCO Chairman Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, IAS, GCC’s Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Aftab Rasool, IAS, and the Executive Director of CMWSSB, and has submitted written complaints to the Chief Minister’s Cell and the Chief Secretary.
Officials assure swift action and cooperation
After understanding the severity of the issue, Dr. Radhakrishnan immediately ordered an investigation and action, and assured the KGWA he would personally discuss the issue with his counterparts in the GCC and CMWSSB to ensure a solution.
Further, RDC Aftab Rasool inspected the area and pledged immediate cooperation between all departments. He assured residents that the project would be expedited and that the usual ‘Monsoon Stop Work’ order would not apply, allowing the work to continue without interruption. The RDC also highlighted that many residents have connected their drainage to the SWDs, which are already clogged with plastic, further stressing the system. In response, the KGWA assured that they would create awareness and work to regulate such connections.
