Life changed drastically for the residents of Sithalapakkam when clean air and abundant water they enjoyed earlier were replaced by sewage like water in taps and putrid smell emitting from stagnant pools of sewage in the colony. The Tamil Nadu Housing Board that built an underground drainage system for the colony failed to maintain it, leading to theft of equipment, over flowing manholes and unusable utilities. The residents have asked the government agencies to intervene before the problem reaches beyond repair.