Date:25/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/25/stories/2006052519410400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Residents demand action against transporters

R. Sujatha

Signed petition submitted to Police Commissioner on Tuesday

GODOWN STREET?: M. K. Garden Street in Mannadi in North Chennai was until recently a quiet lane, but transporters have made living difficult for residents here. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: Residents of Mahfuskhan (MK) Garden Street in Mannadi in North Chennai have appealed to the police to ensure that their street is not targeted by transporters any more.

M.K. Garden Street is a 20-feet wide bylane with many two- and three-storeyed buildings. The ground floors on many buildings serve as garages. Until recently, the garages were used for storing foodgrains and paper rolls. But for two years now, chemical dyes, plastic products, iron and aluminium rods and pipes are being stored.

Three transporters have taken 12 garages on lease to store inflammable and plastic goods. Last week, a fire broke out in one of the garages where chemical dyes were stored. The entire population of 1,500 was on the street for several hours, worried for their safety.

"When pulses and paper rolls were stored, transporters came only a couple of times in a week to clear their goods. It was not a hindrance. But now vehicles move all the time, even at night. We cannot move about on our street," said a resident here.

"When I look out of my balcony in the morning, I feel like I am living on a railway track," said a woman, who has been living in one of the buildings for 30 years. "There is always dust in the air. The drivers rev up their engines and the diesel fumes make breathing difficult."

Sometimes heavy packages are thrown or dropped causing a huge thud and shaking buildings around, residents said.

Complaint filed

A complaint presented to the Police Commissioner on Tuesday, signed by over 60 residents, expressed surprise that when heavy vehicles were not allowed inside the city between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. loading/unloading continued all day on their street.

"How did the transporters gain permission when there are check posts at every street corner? We are very upset and surprised that in [a] residential area 10-wheeler lorries are parked every day from end to end on the street," the complaint stated. By leasing space out to transporters, the owners of the buildings of the street have also contributed to a sharp rise in real estate prices, residents said.

Police Commissioner Letika Saran, who met the residents on Tuesday, assured them that action would be taken to ensure that peace and quiet were restored to the street.