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Ward-level special meetings to address civic grievances were held across Tiruchi city on Wednesday. Corporation officials and Councillors interacted with residents and received petitions on various local issues. The meetings were held in all 65 wards with the aim to review and improve basic services such as drinking water supply, solid waste management, streetlight maintenance, roads, parks, and stormwater drains. Corporation officials said that priority was being given to stormwater drains, road works, and streetlight requirements. Three key petitions from each ward were selected for approval, and ₹15 lakh had been allocated to address the identified issues. “A majority of the meetings highlighted the need for desilting drains, measures to remove stagnant rainwater, upgrading 20-watt streetlights, and repairing faulty drains. Steps are being taken to address the issues,” a senior official said. Mayor M. Anbzhagan attended the meeting in Ward 27 and received petitions from residents. Residents drew the attention of the Mayor to unresolved issues such as clearing of encroachments of several motorbike resellers and mechanics along Pattabiraman Road, causing the stretch to be congested and leaving very less space for vehicular movement, and uncovered sewer drains. Residents demanded new stormwater drains and repair of faulty ones in the area, renovation of the dilapidated bus shelter on Khajamalai Main Road at the meeting held in Ward 60 at Amman Nagar. Similarly, in a meeting held in Ward 57 at Kaliammankovil Street in Edamalaipattipudur, residents demanded immediate repair of roads that were badly damaged due to the monsoon, measures to control stray dog menace, and development of parks and playgrounds. Issues in enrolling in the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme and house patta-related issues were some of the other issues highlighted at the meeting. Councillors noted that some wards saw poor public turnout reportedly due to a lack of awareness of the meeting schedule and venues.
