Thirumullaivoyal, a fast-developing suburb, struggles with poor roads and water woes

Sandwiched between Avadi and Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal — a rapidly developing locality abutting the Chennai-Tiruvallur High Road — grapples with some deep-rooted civic challenges that remain unresolved beneath the surface of its real estate boom.

Like several other areas on Chennai’s fringes, Thirumullaivoyal, located on the western periphery of the city and falling under the Avadi Municipal Corporation, continues to lack comprehensive underground drainage and water supply systems in some of its residential localities. The lack of infrastructure is reflected in the pathetic state of its vital waterbodies, which cry out for attention.

Arafath Eri, which abuts C.T.H. Road on the eastern side and is located amidst residential areas, is a classic example. According to the lake records, the waterbody, which feeds Ambattur lake in the downstream, originally had a water spread area of nearly 61 hectares; it shrunk to 13.02 hectares over the past decades owing to rapid urbanisation and encroachments.

A recent inspection by Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare S.M. Nasar and Tiruvallur Collector M. Prathap has sparked hopes of revival of the lake as a source of groundwater recharge.

S. Sundaramurthy, president, Puzhal Eri Arafath Eri Padhukappu Makkal Iyakkam, a citizens’ group dedicated to the conservation of lakes, said “the lake was a key resource for drinking and agrarian needs for the neighbourhood until 1980s. Sewage from areas like Manigandapuram and Balaji Nagar get disposed off into open rainwater canals that are linked to the lake. It is also covered with a layer of water hyacinth.”

Unless the area is covered with an underground drainage scheme and the two sewage treatment plants are put to proper use, the lake would continue to be misused, he said.

‘Clear encroachments’

Residents wanted the municipal authorities and the Water Resources Department to clear encroachments and rejuvenate the lake, besides setting up recreational facilities.

While the main bund of the Red Hills reservoir, one of the city’s major drinking water sources, remains in the spotlight, the rear portion of the lake near Thirumullaivoyal, is not cared for. The boundary of the lake, particularly near the Arikambedu-Thirumullaivoyal junction, is treated like a makeshift dumpyard, complained residents.

P. Logeswaran, a resident of Srinagar Colony, said many areas, including Srinagar Colony and Senthil Nagar, are still waiting for water connections despite remitting the deposit amount a decade ago. Even those localities that are covered by the drinking water network have not been receiving adequate water supply. Several people relied on the groundwater source, and localities such as Saraswathi Nagar and M.G.R. Nagar have been waiting for an underground sewer network for many years now.

Poor roads

Though well-connected by public transport and rail links, damaged roads are another issue plaguing Thirumullaivoyal. Residents noted that several areas like Sakthi Nagar, Venkatachalam Nagar, and Saraswathi Nagar lacked blacktopped roads.

Chozhambedu Main Road, which is a key stretch connecting traffic from C.T.H. Road to several residential areas of Thirumullaivoyal, incuding Tamarai Nagar, is riddled with potholes and uneven patches, said Manoharan K., a resident of Venkatachalam Nagar.

Listing out the various measures being implemented for the area’s development, Amudha Babysekar, Zone 2 chairman, Avadi Municipal Corporation, said a proposal is being prepared to restore Arafath lake as an eco-park on the lines of Paruthipattu lake in Avadi. The lake would be improved with various facilities, such as pavements and a children’s play area. It would also serve as a recreational space for residents with several amenities like boat rides.

Measures are being taken to ensure the functioning of the two sewage treatment plants in Manikandapuram 9th Street and C.T.H. Road to reduce sewage pollution into Arafath lake. Work to provide underground drainage network is also in progress.

Nearly 80% of Thirumullaivoyal has been covered by drinking water lines, and work is in progress to provide connections to the remaining areas. A new overhead tank in Nagammai Nagar would provide water supply to the left-out streets.

As for Chozhambedu Main Road, she said, the stretch, which was dug up to execute various infrastructure projects, would be restored in 10 days. Relaying of damaged roads, including in Manikandapuram, is being carried out at a cost of ₹2 crore.