CHENNAI: A recent study conducted by Arappor Iyakkam, a citizen-led organisation, exposed the dismal living conditions in eight Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) tenements across Chennai.
The study, which involved more than 50 volunteers, highlighted issues ranging from poor construction and lack of basic amenities to social problems such as drug abuse among the youth.
The study covered TNUHDB tenements in Perumbakkam, Semmenchery, Kannagi Nagar, Navalur, Thiruvottiyur, KP Park and Thideer Nagar. Residents reported frequent power cuts, unsafe wiring, dysfunctional lifts and shoddy garbage management. Water scarcity is a major issue in Perumbakkam, where water is supplied for only one hour every three days.
The survey found rampant instances of drug abuse among youth in Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar, Perumbakkam, and Semmenchery, exacerbated by lack of CCTV cameras. Residents in Kannagi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar also sought more Anganwadi centres to support young children.
“There are many common issues across these housing boards. Residents lack access to basic facilities such as running water and proper sewage systems,” said Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam. The report highlights poor construction quality in KP Park and Kannagi Nagar. “The material used, including pipes and plaster, are of substandard quality, suggesting corruption and maladministration,” said Venkatesan.
Thousands of families were relocated to areas such as Kannagi Nagar and Semmenchery, far from their original residences and livelihoods. This significantly increased their commuting burden. Although the govt provides free bus services for women, residents say the services are insufficient to meet their needs.
The study recommends setting up a transparent and trackable grievance redress mechanism for residents to report issues. “The current response from officials is extremely poor. There is also a shortage of manpower within TNUHDB, which needs urgent attention,” said M. Radhakrishnan, a volunteer.
