Black flags put up by the residents of Sendrayanpalayam in Gobichettipalayam taluk in Erode district atop their houses to press their demands for basic amenities in the locality.
Residents of Sendrayanpalayam, a forest-fringe hamlet under the Periyakodiveri Town Panchayat in Gobichettipalayam taluk, have urged the district administration to provide basic amenities to around 100 families who relocated to the area nearly six years ago.The families said most of them were agricultural and day labourers who relocated from different parts of the town panchayat to the Matheswaran Temple area near the forest boundary under the T.N. Palayam Forest Range, resided in huts and temporary structures.The settlement, however, still did not have electricity, piped drinking water supply, motorable roads and public transport. In a move to press their demands, the residents hoisted black flags atop their houses on Friday.According to the residents, officials from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) informed them that power connections could only be provided after the Revenue Department issued land pattas. The absence of pattas had delayed the provision of drinking water supply, electricity connections and road access despite repeated representations to the authorities.With no electricity or streetlights, the residents said they were unable to move about after sunset and feared encounters with wild animals, including venomous snakes, as it was located close to the forest.The residents said they had submitted several petitions to the taluk and district administrations seeking pattas and basic amenities, but any action was yet to be taken.
