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Residents demand improved sewerage system

Karthik Madhavan

Commuters pay for water at Dharapuram bus stand even though there is a connection

POLLUTING THE CANAL: The waste water let into Raja Vaikaal. - Photo: M. Govarthan

DHARAPURAM: Residents of this small dusty town on the south of Erode district face some problem or the other from water. If it is not drinking water, it is sewage. Now the problem is more with the latter. The Municipality does not have a proper sewage treatment facility.

The waste water from the 30 wards is let into Raja Vaikkaal, a canal irrigating lands since British days.

Sewage mixes with Vaikkaal at three places - at the end of the Cross Lane, off Bheemarayan Road, next to Dharapuram Government Hospital and near Maariamman Temple.

At the confluence near the Cross Lane, it is full of filth, plant and other decomposable waste, which block the flow of water. A strong stench emanates from the place, also a haven for mosquito breeding.

Likewise, near the Government Hospital things are no different. Here too waste block the flow of water. Residents say the sewage is also let into Kolinjivaadi Vaikkaal, another canal for irrigation.

According to their estimates both the conduits irrigate about 20,000 acres of land.

Now with filth and waste blocking the way, the canals have more or less turned into big sewerages. These mix with River Amaravathi down stream. "What was once used to irrigate lands is now sewerage, thanks to indiscriminate dumping of wastes into the canal by residents and a nonchalant attitude on the part of the civic body and other Government departments," complains V. Dhandapani, a resident.

Apart from the canals, the other problem that residents face is the bus stand, managed by the Dharapuram Municipality. Here packaged mineral water of well-known companies is available in plenty. But what is not available is ordinary, plain drinking water. There exists a water connection, but not for commuters.

"The drinking water connection is allegedly used by the contractor who maintains the public convenience complex at the bus stand. Under the present circumstances a commuter is forced to pay for water. The only other alternative is to pay for water," rues R. Ramasamy, a resident.

He says a drinking water facility put up by a social service organisation was removed sometime ago. The two tap connections that served commuters on the western side have also been removed.

The absence of drinking water apart, the only free public convenience facility, constructed by the Municipality by demolishing a portion of the shopping complex at the bus stand a few months ago for a couple of lakh rupees, is now unusable. One cannot take a step into the complex, thanks to unhygienic condition. Residents allege that ever since the complex was inaugurated, there has been no maintenance.

When contacted, the Municipal authorities were unavailable for comment. The employees at the Municipality said all the officers were busy attending a meeting.

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