CHENNAI: Rain brings joy to the Chennaiites. They rejoice for little drizzles, celebrate heavy showers and some even thank the almighty for showing courtesy towards the water-starved metro. Surprisingly, can you believe that the rain gods are unwelcome guests for a section of the city residents?“Just drop in our area during the monsoon,” lamented Jaya, an elderly residing at NVN Nagar. “When it rains, we’re forced to vacate our homes. It’s an ugly experience.” Situated in one of the most significant localities of the city at Thirumangalam, the tenements promoted by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board off the Jawaharlal Nehru Road has plenty of woes for its parts.Spilling of sewage water has made life miserable for the occupants, leading to several problems from health hazards to deserting the tenements during rainy season, as the drainage-mixed-storm water enters the house.“Leave monsoon. Even when it rains heavily for a couple of hours on other days, the rainwater mixed with the overflowing sewage gushes into the ground floors,” says Amudha, a middle-aged woman, who was born and raised here. “Immediately, we seek accommodation for our children on top floors. We are at the mercy of those living above us,” she rued.Another serious problem plaguing the tenements is about children frequently falling ill due to water-borne diseases, thanks to sewage water, spilling over on the streets, which have become the breeding ground for mosquitoes. Malaria and typhoid are the common diseases reported among the children, the locals claim.The tenements were established in 1975, christened after the name of the former DMK Minister, NV Natarajan. About 1,150 families, belonging to middle and lower income group, are residing in the tenements.Kamalakannan, a resident, alleged that despite repeated pleas, authorities have failed to address their grievances. He said, “We have seen jet rodders only on the road and it has never entered our locality.”
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