The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sewage in storm water drains

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sewage in storm water drains

T. Madhavan

Tambaram municipality indifferent to our plight, say residents

A STINKER OF A PROBLEM: Sewage flowing down a stormwater channel and inundating parts of Bharati Nagar, Perungalathur. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

CHENNAI: Domestic sewage and wastewater from shops and commercial establishments in Tambaram being discharged into a storm water drain is causing severe hardship to residents of Bharathi Nagar, Perungalathur.

The Perungalathur village panchayat constructed storm water drains at a cost of Rs. 11.50 lakhs. The drains were connected to `Pappan Kalvai,' the main channel. The channels were connected by storm water drains constructed on Mudichur Road by the Tambaram Municipality.

Dakshinamurthy, a resident, said: "The problems began when people started letting sewage out into the drains. The Municipal authorities are indifferent to our plight." Sometime back, residents blocked the drain with concrete to prevent sewage from Tambaram entering the `Pappan Kalvai.' The authorities removed it to prevent inundation of Mudichur Road.

P. Stalin Mani, president of the residents' welfare association, said they approached the court seeking a direction to the Tambaram Municipality not discharge sewage into the `Pappan Kalvai'. The case was disposed of following an undertaking by the Municipal Commissioner to the District Collector to seek alternate ways to dispose the sewage.

"Several letters and personal representations to the Tambaram Municipality have not elicited any response," said S. Chinathambi, secretary of the residents welfare association.

He said the storm water drain was filled with garbage from Mudichur Road as well as from Bharathi Nagar and neighbouring colonies.

Plastic waste clogs the drain and stagnant water serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, he said. "The stench is unbearable," a resident of Bharathi Nagar said.

Arumai Dass, ward councillor, Perungalathur Village Panchayat said the local body had passed a resolution asking the Municipality to stop discharging sewage into the storm water drains. The wastewater from Mudichur Road could be taken out through Sriram Nagar Road or through a street opposite Rajambhal Kalyana Mandapam, he said.

K. Sekar, Perungalathur panchayat president said, "I have appealed to the Municipal authorities to take measures to avoid this situation. But no action has been taken." Residents expressed the hope that the Tambaram Municipality would take a decision soon to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic.

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