Coimbatore Residents Stage Protests Over Deteriorating Conditions in Government Housing Units
In a significant display of public discontent, residents of three housing units under the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) in Madukkarai taluk, Coimbatore, organized protests on Sunday. The demonstrations aimed to highlight severe issues of poor maintenance, lack of basic facilities, and the failure to implement government norms, drawing urgent attention from concerned authorities.
Widespread Demonstrations Across Multiple Locations
The protests were coordinated by the Residents' Welfare Associations of housing units at Vellalore, Anbu Nagar in Malumichampatti panchayat, and Senthamizh Nagar at Mayilkal. Demonstrators gathered at three key sites: the Vellalore housing unit, in front of the Malumichampatti panchayat office, and near the Mayilkal bus stop. Notably, among the protestors were women carrying infants, underscoring the community-wide impact of the grievances.
Core Issues Flagged by Protestors
The residents raised multiple critical concerns that have severely affected their quality of life:
- Irregular Water Supply: Overhead tanks are non-functional, leading to acute water shortages for domestic use.
- Sanitation Problems: Accumulated garbage remains uncleared, causing foul smells and health hazards.
- Poor Upkeep: Parks are overgrown with thick vegetation and infested with reptiles like snakes due to neglect.
- Non-Functional Facilities: Primary health centres attached to the units are not operational, depriving residents of essential healthcare.
Additionally, protestors demanded the establishment of police stations near the housing units to enhance safety and security for the community.
Systemic Failures in Implementation
According to the protestors, maintenance and improvements were supposed to be managed through residents' welfare associations under the ‘Our Apartment, Our Responsibility' scheme, with 50% funding each from the government and residents. However, this framework has collapsed due to non-implementation.
G P Sakthivel, district secretary of the TNUHDB Residents' Welfare Association, emphasized that the protest was organized to address the persistent neglect of urban housing projects in the district. He alleged that government directives mandating the formation of residents' welfare associations, conduct of elections, and maintenance through elected office-bearers have not been executed, contributing directly to the current crisis.
Vulnerable Communities Being Ignored
Sakthivel pointed out that most residents in these housing units belong to economically weaker and middle-income groups, with many being daily wage labourers. He criticized the authorities for ignoring their plight, stating that the lack of action exacerbates the hardships faced by these vulnerable populations.
The protests underscore a broader issue of governance and accountability in urban housing projects, calling for immediate intervention to restore basic amenities and improve living conditions for hundreds of families in Coimbatore.
