The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Residential colony flooded with sewage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Residential colony flooded with sewage

By K. Lakshmi

CHENNAI, MARCH 31. A residential colony in Tirumullaivoyal, falling under Avadi Municipality, has been flooded with sewage from a neighbouring locality.

Residents of Netaji Nagar fear that the overflow could lead to health problems and pollute groundwater.

A resident of First Main Road in Netaji Nagar alleged that the neighbouring Tamil Nadu Housing Board colony, which houses 400 families, released sewage water into an open canal linked to a dilapidated well. The sewage has been spilling over the open lands through the damaged canal for the past four years.

Residents explained that there was a sewer network in the neighbouring colony, which had sewage water released into a sump and later pumped to Annanur through a pumping station. Due to poor maintenance of the sump and pumping station, the sewage water overflowed.

A resident noted that a borewell, which supplied water for the area was located near the inundated land, raising concern over outbreak of water-borne diseases. The lack of a proper drainage system in the municipality was cited to be the cause for such illegal release of sewage water.

Responding to the residents' charges, municipal officials said the Tamil Nadu Housing Board was yet to hand over the maintenance of the colony. The ward councillor, Prakash, said lack of manpower was also a reason for the delay. Steps were being taken to desilt the well and rectify the problem in a week.

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