The cloudburst of December 30: The surprises on the ground

They may not be front-runners in water management — there are more glowing examples across Chennai. But given the limiting factors, one of them being age, Aditya Ashwin Apartments and Anand Apartments on Dr Ranga Road have done well and achieved results, which were on display this monsoon

On the front yard of Aditya Ashwin Apartments on Dr. Ranga Road, a raintree has grown bridled, its gnarled buttress illustrating how it has made the most of the narrow strip of earth available to it. The tree is an apt symbol for the apartment which seems to be straining every tired old sinew to tackle modern civic challenges, despite being dreadfully rooted in the past. Its most recent laurel: It flaunted a dry driveway on the morning of December 31, following the previous day’s cloudburst.

The 37-flat apartment turned 35 this November, and as apartments go, anything fast approaching 40, suggests senior citizenry, not so much for the number of years that has passed as for the count of modern advantages that has been missed. While a majority of disadvantages can be tolerated, being plonked lower than younger neighbours who stand on raised foundations can be vexatious during the monsoon.

On this section of Dr Ranga Road, there is no stormwater drain, reveals CR Ashok, a resident of another apartment — Jains Aishwarya, a millennial among ageing apartments like Aditya Ashwin Apartments and Anand Apartments (42 years old).