Tuesday, August 09, 2022

Following a two-month hiatus and the stormwater drain!

On Sunday, after a two-month hiatus, I emerged from the house or was hoisted down through the elevator for an evening stroll. As you may or may not be aware, the work of rebuilding the stormwater drain in our street, a project initiated by the Chennai Corporation to restore all waterways that carry rainwater by September, when the northeast monsoon begins, has kept me at home since June 3rd; even though the stretch in front of the house has built, it is still incomplete without slabs to cover the gaps left by them, and we were to do some mason work for me to access it through the wheelchair. 

I am dissatisfied with the work done on the stormwater drain by the Chennai Corporation on a contract basis. At least in our neighborhood, it appears that the contractors were non-professionals who lacked even the most fundamental sensibility. I'm furious at how they lay the stormwater drain in our backstreet, which was almost done but unevenly! It was narrow in some places, wider in others, and took many curves where there should have been a straight line; all of this illustrates their carelessness and unprofessionalism in creating a channel. The worst is happening on our street, where only 10% of the work has been finished. 

Coming to our street, the construction lags so much, and we're thankful that we fall within the 150-foot length they've done, but there are still a few holes to be filled with concrete blocks. I expected them to finish the work in less than a month based on the speed with which they excavated, but two months had passed, and they had only completed the length I described. Some housefronts have difficulty crossing the ditch with stretched steel bars, and no vehicle can enter or exit the houses. 

Worst of all was the mosquito infestation. We usually don't have mosquitoes during the summer, and only if it rains do one or two emerge but now that it's dry, the dug-up ditches holding sewage water from some residents' leaky pipes have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, forcing us to stay inside after 6 p.m., closing all the doors and windows. Nonetheless, they find their way into our houses and make our nights a nightmare! We wake up several times during the night to use the electric bats to kill the mosquitos. It irritates us when they arrive, singing in our ears. 

I got a bladder infection last month, as you are all aware. I couldn't go to the doctor or leave the house to have a medical test to determine the severity of my ailment. Fortunately, the doctor treated me without seeing me and also arranged for the scan to be done at home. I'm doing well today, but I'm still on medication, which I have to take for another week. The local officials never pay attention to our complaints and are incredibly deaf and stupid, however, the councilor enjoyed standing in front of a section of the completed stormwater drain and then vanished, never to be seen again. Huh 

6 comments:

Tom said...

...I'm sorry to hear that the work has taken so long and done poor. Two months is a long time to be in your home.

ashok said...

very true Jeevan..I was in Chennai last week and saw the drain work executed...no levels maintained and bad unprofessional work done.

George said...

I'm sorry to hear about the slow, poorly-done construction work done in your neighborhood.

carol l mckenna said...

I am glad you were able to finally get out of the house after 2 months but sad to hear of the poor workmanship and the mosquito problems ~ hope situation improves for you and your family ~ namaste,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

L. D. said...

Incompetent workers are frustrating. It is bad that they messed up your whole area which give you your freedom. I spent a summer pushing my wife around in a wheel chair and there were obstacles everywhere. I am sure you deal with that every time you go someplace.

Nancy Chan said...

Poor quality work done can be frustrating especially when it affects our area. Hope they will hasten and finish the work without any more delay. Sorry about the indifferent attitude of those who are suppose to look into the complaints.