Friday, February 15, 2013

My street

I think I can’t get out of my house or street for a week, even I have nothing to do outside I feel locked.  Building rainwater drainage (by Chennai corporation)had been taking place around my area for some time now had reached our dead end street has stopped the vehicle activity and only a plank is put for bikes and walkers to cross. I actually had a plan to check a film in my favorable theater here was spoiled by this sudden dug up which was supposed to happen at anytime? Since they have covered almost streets expect our dead end.  We really lost our (not so good) paved roads to these enclosed canals building process which damaged the already gone worst here and there road due to many flat constructions on our Rajaji Nagar main road in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.

It’s been long time I took to the streets around my home on the power wheel chair, accompanied by someone (mom or uncle or cousins) during the evening hours really make the day end impressive. I used to receive the sun-rays on my body and sight of glowing sun setting behind the buildings and checking some beautiful flowers bloomed from the neighborhood houses. It used to be a motivation path to me, taking somehow deep breath and fresh breeze and different sights and new faces on streets improving my awareness on neighborhood. I used to come across stray dogs and few bark at me riding on a different wagon and some remain quiet sleeping on streets just taking a note on me and I even encounter their chase on those ride on bikes and cars but they keep calm when I pass.

The streets that I used take then were passed through almost unconstructed plots open to wild vegetation and roads were smooth enough with few speed breakers which used to be fun ride over. Once the open lands were started to construct apartments, the roads shape changed irregular and sights turned indifferent and dust and debris represents the fresh breeze and wild vegetation  Even then I used to go around occasionally, everything come to cease when roads turned worst after rains and dug up clay of buildings occupied the road. Now the rainwater drainage (rose to a foot height platform) build aside and across the roads make it tough and I know the importance of these drainage systems saving us from the stagnant of rainwater that threaten in different ways during monsoons. I feel hard without going out.

I think instead of cutting the roads across and making a concrete canal, that take a week-long to built, they can use underground pipes wherever a road cut through to connect the canals. I always feel the Chennai Corporation never does a neat job (for eg. they always leave the sludge dug up from drainage besides the lid) and they lack ideas how to handle things or use alternate routes. I wish I get back the roads that I used to wander freely then in evenings and I know the scenes never going to be same and roads without constant of vehicles pass but I wish for a better and improved roads after overall drainage constructions are completed in our area. The open grounds which are now multistory apartments and villas amaze me, equally the worst roads! Waiting to catch up with an impressive evening and going around and seeking inspirations once again regularly. 

11 comments:

Irfanuddin said...

these municipal authorities are simply worthless at times and they never think of the hardships we face from their acts.....i wish you get a chance to move out soon....:)

Destination Infinity said...

Patience. If you live in India, you need to develop lots of it :)

Destination Infinity

Anonymous said...

Not being able to move out for a week? Omg that's sickening! I thought Thiruvanmiyur had good roads and all .. At least the OMR looks so :P

And yah, Chennai roads are way too bad. The funny thing is they put on good, smooth concrete road only to be dug a month for some or other work (maintenance, cable, electric and God knows what all). Why don't they just plan for the work and then lay the road. It angers to see the public's money being wasted like this! :@

And you are right, going around the neighborhood has its own charm. You are lucky to at least go on other days and look out. The place I live in, its fully commercial and except racing motors, cramped spaces and brightly lit shops, its hard to find, let alone relish nature..

Ramakrishnan said...

I feel sorry for you being unable to get out for a whole week. Corporation officials are careless,mindless,heartless,shameless & worthless.They are no different in Coimbatore where I live. It is high time people took to the streets and protested & fought for their basic rights.Please try to meet/write to the local corp orator in your area and submit a petition.You may also submit RTI application.
Best Wishes Ram

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I hope they can rectify this soon my friend so that you do not have to be inside for a week!!

Jyoti Mishra said...

Its not only in chennai Jeevan..
story is same everywhere... they never complete their work in a single time..
roads are dug up, build and dug up again...

TexWisGirl said...

i am sorry that you cannot get out right now. and that the progress around you has disrupted your natural views and nice roads, too.

Kalyan said...

And its all the same everywhere in almost all the cities in India. The last word in the administrative dictionary is to create something meaningful for the citizens. I just wonder so many of these fellows travel abroad or even see in television of European countries or even some of our Asian countries which have improved leaps and bounds in civic services along with beautification of cities but alas our administrators would just love to boast about their shortsightedness and talk more and work less.

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Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

Nothing to say... We are indians, we are living in india

i am sorry to hear...

Anonymous said...

I am sorry that you have been locked up inside your house, Jeevan. And I also agree with the general spirit of your post.

Just one note of clarification though: if the problem is digging up roads, which I think it is, underground pipes are not an answer because installing them requires digging up the earth. The one thing the corporation can try to do is speed up the process so that public inconvenience is minimised.