More than 1,500 Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board homes in Chennai’s Srinivasapuram are in damaged condition, with collapsed ceilings, cracked walls and weakened balconies and staircases raising safety concerns as the monsoon intensifies.
The settlement in Pattinapakkam has 1,536 houses, according to TNUHDB officials cited by DT Next. Residents said several buildings have deteriorated to the point that they are afraid to remain inside their homes or use common areas, and have urged authorities to provide alternative accommodation without further delay.
A survey has been conducted to identify damaged houses, and the process of shifting affected families to alternative homes on Loop Road is under way. Of the 224 families identified for relocation, 197 have already been shifted, while arrangements for the remaining families are in progress, officials said.
Residents, however, said the relocation process has not moved quickly enough. They have raised concerns that continued rain could further weaken the structures and increase the risk of ceilings, balconies or other portions of the buildings collapsing. The damage has also affected staircases and other shared access areas used by residents to enter and leave their homes.
“It’s frightening to live in the house. Parts of the house, both inside and outside, could collapse at any time,” resident Usharani told DT Next. She said the ceiling inside her home was damaged and broken, while the staircases and balconies were also unsafe. “We’re scared even while sleeping and eating. We’re living in fear every day,” she said.
Another resident, Selvam, said his family had lived in the area for 40 years and that a portion of a building had collapsed near his children while they were studying at home. He said residents were especially worried that the structures could become weaker during the rainy season and called for alternative homes to be provided before the monsoon became more intense.
TNUHDB officials said more than 1,000 families had been issued enumeration forms as part of the process. The forms have not been returned, officials said, and the shifting process has been delayed because residents have not reached a consensus. Under the scheme guidelines, land cannot be allotted separately; houses must instead be constructed and allotted to eligible beneficiaries.
The TNUHDB Chief Engineer is scheduled to visit Srinivasapuram to assess the situation and review the relocation process, officials said.
