Rats! Residents of Adambakkam want relief

CHENNAI: Catch the rat! That is what Adambakkam residents tell the vote-seeking candidates. They expect their councillor to end the menace on a priority basis. Speaking to Express, NV Sampath, a resident of Valmiki Street in Nilamangai Nagar of Adambakkam, said the rat menace had now become unmanageable. “Water outlet pipes are often used by rats to gain entry. These small mammals eat away the plastic drain filters [known as jali colloquially] to get through,” he says.Computer cables, wires, plastic buckets, clothes and even hard PVC pipes could not withstand the incisor teeth of these creatures.Agreeing with him, L Ravi, a resident of Tagore Street, said the appeals to the local authorities did not help. “They say that they could handle only dog or monkey menace,” he said. Pointing out that traditional traps no more lured rats, several others expressed helplessness.“Now, rats carefully avoid glue traps too. Perhaps, after seeing certain deaths, the mammals are wise,” said S Sankar, another resident.S Kumar Rao, a resident of nearby Balaji Nagar which comes under Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam limits, says the presence of bushes, thorns, trees, open drains and availability of food refuse nourished the growth of rodents. The residents hope that the councillor to be elected soon will help address the issue. Nilamangai Nagar falls under ward 165 of the corporation. Previously, it was in Alandur Municipality.