Trichy: Vacant plots owned by the defence ministry and railways in Trichy city have become a menace to nearby residents. The newly-elected corporation councillors were flooded with complaints from residents around them about the filthy state of the plots and misuse by anti-social elements. The unfenced empty plots, dumped with solid waste and construction debris, also serve as a haven for illegal activities including pig rearing.
While Trichy Corporation always asks individuals and private institutions to keep their vacant plots clean, the properties belonging to the defence and railways lays without maintenance. The vacant properties are located in KK Nagar, Mannarpuram, Cantonment and Ponmalaipatti in the city. Weeds have invaded the sites and stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents complained of anti-social elements misusing the space during night. The councillors of the wards concerned are flooded with demands from the local people seeking solutions. “The corporation officials cannot enter the defence property. Residents are approaching me to clean the defence land in MGR Nagar and JJ Nagar. I have requested the mayor and the corporation commissioner for support,” G Ramesh, councillor of ward 46, said.
The situation is not different with ward number 60, which covers KK Nagar and Khajamalai. The ward councilor, Khajamalai Vijay, said that pigs were illegally reared near the vacant sites. “Around 40 pigs were caught from the vacant plot in KK Nagar. Nearby residents are demanding me to clean the site, at least the defence people can allow us to maintain the site,” Khajamalai Vijay told TOI. The sites were not properly fenced. “We will intimate the defence officials to clean their plots,” a sanitary official with Trichy Corporation said.
