Residents at Melapulam Pudur village near Nemili town in Ranipet on Wednesday blocked the Ocheri - Arakkonam Main Road, which is maintained by the State Highways, against open discharge of sullage behind habitation area, posing a risk to the health of senior citizens and children.
Residents said that more than 100 dalit families have been living in the colony on the outskirts of the village, which has over 1,000 families, for the past three decades. Along with elected representatives, the officials of the Melapulam Pudur panchayat constructed a stormwater drain in the village in 2005 to discharge excess rainwater during monsoon.
A portion of the watershed area, around a four-acre open plot, was identified for the purpose. The plot is located behind the dalit colony in the village. “Due to stagnation of contaminated water in the open land, our children get sick often as the plot has turned into mosquito breeding ground. During monsoon, our houses get inundated once the plot fills up,” said K. Esakki, a resident.
