Since Cyclone Fengal wreaked havoc in Chennai in November 2024, up to 466 families in the TT block of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) building in Vyasarpadi’s Satiamurthy Nagar have been receiving water from uncovered tanks exposed to contamination. The cyclone had damaged the lids of these tanks—located on the 14th floor of the building—leaving residents dependent on a compromised water supply.
TNUHDB, the state-run agency responsible for providing affordable housing to economically weaker sections, constructed this building as part of its efforts to rehabilitate low-income families. However, residents say poor maintenance and lack of timely intervention have made living conditions unsafe.
Over the past three months, many residents have reported skin infections and allergies, raising serious health concerns. Lokesh (name changed), one of the residents, alleged that despite multiple complaints and even presenting medical prescriptions as evidence, the authorities have made no effort to cover the tanks.
“My family and I started developing rashes after showering. We had to visit the hospital and take medication for several weeks before they subsided,” he said. Lokesh also noted that the water from their pipes often develops a foul odour.
Dysfunctional elevators have been another longstanding issue for residents. Of the six elevators at the TT block, only two are operational at any given time, residents told TNM. “This has been the case for the last two years. The building itself is only three years old—we were moved here in 2022,” said Navi (name changed), another resident.
Even the functioning elevators pose problems. On March 12, two residents including a 40-year-old woman were trapped inside elevator number 4. Residents said they were stuck for 30 minutes before a lift operator came and rescued them.
For senior citizens living on the upper floors, the lack of working elevators makes mobility a challenge, forcing many to remain confined to their homes. Residents also reported long queues and overcrowding at the elevators during school and office hours.
When TNM reached out, the Executive Engineer (EE) concerned acknowledged the issues and assured that steps would be taken to address them.
Adding to their woes, residents have also reported thefts of auto seats and petrol from two-wheelers. When they requested the installation of CCTV cameras, authorities reportedly responded that they were awaiting the sanctioning of funds.
