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Why is sewerage project delayed, ask Ambattur DMK members

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI MAY 1. The lack of progress of the underground sewerage project of the Ambattur municipality, for which residents have already paid Rs. four crores by way of deposit, continues to puzzle the councillors and the chairman of the municipality.

When the municipal council met on Tuesday, several DMK councillors raised the issue with the AIADMK chairman, K. Rukmangatan, asking him to explain why the project was delayed for so long despite the collection of deposit from residents.

"The councillors are finding it difficult to explain to the members of the public the reasons for the delay", said the DMK councillor, Durai Natarajan. Since the mega project envisaged laying of giant pipeline to the length of 149-kms covering 20 of the 52 wards in the municipality, the councillor pointed that basic infrastructure works like roads were not taken up in the wards that were falling under the scheme.

In response, Mr. Rukmangatan referred to the Chief Minister's remarks at the Assembly that the project would be taken up. "Since the Chief Minister herself has announced in the Assembly that the project would be taken up, all councillors can rest assured that the works will commence shortly".

This was followed by insinuations from a few other AIADMK councillors that it was during the previous regime that the DMK had hurriedly conducted a function in the municipality to launch the project, even without getting proper approval.

The DMK councillors immediately retorted saying that the underground sewerage scheme was progressing well in municipalities like Alandur and Avadi, which had chairmen from their party. "The lack of progress of the scheme only shows the inefficiency of the AIADMK chairman", the DMK councillors, S. Andrews and S.Balakumaran charged.

Later speaking to the press, Mr. Rukmangatan noted that the main reason for the delay was because of an alteration to the project plan. "The earlier scheme sought sewerage treatment plant to be situated near Korratur Eri but this was found objectionable as it would pollute the area. Now, we propose to lay a pipeline from Korattur to Kodungaiyur to treat the sewage in the Metrowater facility there", he said.

The scheme, originally estimated at Rs 39.6 crores, has been redesigned to cost Rs 35 crores. But neither Rukmangatan nor the municipal engineers were able to give a time span when the project would be launched.

Among other resolutions, the municipality also opted for privatisation of conservancy operations.

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