Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Needed, proper drainage system

Anasuya Menon

Several residents let sewage into open drain

FILTH UNLIMITED: The bus stand opposite Coimbatore Medical College Hospital reels under ungygienic conditions causing much difficulty to commuters. - Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE: Hundred Feet Road or Cross Cut Road may be a shopper's paradise. But, these places are also known for the characteristic odour emanating from the drainages.

The problem is not specific to these two places in Coimbatore. In the absence of a well-connected underground drainage system in the city, sewage is being let off into surface drains unchecked, making stench and filth everyday problems for Coimbatoreans.

Even at places where an underground drainage system is provided, several residents flout the rule, letting sewage into the open drainage.

"This practise is common in Tatabad," points out Mahalakshmi Subramaniam, president of the Kasthuribai Ladies Association, Tatabad. The Association has written a letter to the health department in Chennai requesting the Government to take action in this regard.

"The stench has become unbearable and the water remains stagnant. Mosquitoes have multiplied too," says Vijayalakshmi Hariharan, a resident of Dr. Subbarayan Road in Tatabad. "I have been living here for the last ten years. The problem has compounded in the last four years," she adds. The Association also alleges that the sanitary inspectors have not taken action in spite of repeated requests.

Ms. Mahalakshmi says that the cost involved in connecting the sewer to the under ground drainage is very high, almost working up to Rs.16,000. "This is unaffordable for a middle class family," she says.

The Corporation Commissioner, P.Muthuveeran, says that health officials would sensitise the public on the issue and anyone who have a complaint regarding this could approach the Corporation.

Also, an underground drainage scheme for those areas in the city which does not have underground drainage would be implemented soon, Corporation Commissioner, Mr. Muthuveeran says.

Awaits approval

"Talks are on to get the final approval from the Government for the Rs.168 crore project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme."

Though the unapproved layouts have not been included in this scheme, another Rs. 25 crores have been allotted for unapproved layouts.

Soon after the regularisation of these layouts, the project would be implemented.

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