Overgrown drains mar Royal Towns landscape

TRIPUNITHURA: The United Democratic Front was sworn in as the ruling party in Tripunithura municipality last year.  From the very next day of the formal swearing-in ceremony, the new chairman promised many “new things” to make the royal town more attractive. These new measures included beautification of the stretch between Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple and Statue Junction, utilisation of untapped potable water resources and repair of roads before the beginning of the monsoon. However, residents of Tripunithura soon realised the drawbacks of these assurances. Now all municipal roads are in a poor state with potholes. Drains are filled with garbage and other unwanted materials dumped either by the people residing here or shopkeepers.A narrow drain at the municipal bus stand is in the most pitiable state. No resident or shopkeeper could be blamed for filling the drainage system with waste. Instead, this narrow drain is completely overgrown with weeds, which indicates that the municipality has not been cleaning this area   - the heart of the town - for the past six months or more.  The first anniversary of the newly elected UDF council is approaching, whereas the “golden” promises made by the new chairman remain unfulfilled. The overgrown bushes clogging the drains will restrict the free flow of rain water, which ultimately would result in flash floods.  The Municipal Office is just a few yards from this bus stand. Moreover, this route is being taken by the new Municipal Chairman to his office regularly. Yet this narrow drain is in such an abandoned state.Not only this main drain, but also the road in front of the Municipal Office is completely damaged. Two-wheeler riders often fall into potholes. Similarly, scores of pocket roads await the “mercy” of the authorities. Meanwhile, most of the apartments throw filthy household water into nearby drains. Since the drains are filled with heaps of garbage, waterlogging is quite common in the town. All major junctions, including the municipal bus stand, get submerged in flash floods within hours after the rains.The main roads leading to Elamana Jetty and other parts are littered with garbage bags thrown away by the people.  If things continue in the same manner,  the royal town of Tripunithura would soon be the home of dangerous epidemics.