Matha Kovil Street – Residents of Vazhamangalam in Thirumarugal block of Nagapattinam district have urged the district administration to immediately start the long pending road work, citing serious difficulties caused by damaged and impassable internal roads. Vazhamangalam, a Scheduled Caste (SC) settlement under Agarakonthagai Panchayat, is home to about 300 families.
Villagers said the internal roads, especially in Matha Kovil Street and Thoppu Street, have been in a dilapidated condition for nearly three decades, with loose gravel, deep potholes and uneven surfaces affecting daily life, besides causing difficulty to school children and patients during medical emergencies. Official sources said funds were sanctioned for several roads under various schemes two months ago and work orders were issued.
These include ₹47 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Sadak Vikas Yojana for Matha Kovil Street; ₹10. 60 lakh under Ayothidas Pandithar Scheme for Thoppu Street; ₹6.
62 lakh from MLA Constituency Development Fund for Mariamman Kovil Street; and ₹6. 60 lakh under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, as well as ₹6 lakh from the Union General Fund for paving Kaliamman Kovil Street. While work had started in Mariamman Kovil Street and Kaliamman Kovil Street, residents allege that Matha Kovil Street and Thoppu Street, where a large number of SC families live, have been left untouched despite repeatedly informing the authorities.
Social worker R. Ravi said elected representatives, including Nagapattinam MP V.
Selvaraja and the local MLA, had visited the area and assured residents of prompt action, but the contractors had not yet started the work. In a letter to the district collector in December, the MP raised issues related to drinking water supply, housing site lease and incomplete government housing in the village.
When The Hindu contacted a senior district official, he said the funds had been sanctioned and other civic issues were under consideration. “The remaining road work will be started soon,” the official said.