Date:22/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122258640300.htm

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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

City has put rain behind it, not the stink of sewage

K. Lakshmi and R. Srikanth

Metrowater has identified 90 locations where sewer network needs to be strengthened

Localities such as Virugambakkam, Koyambedu, Adyar have a chronic problem of sewage overflow

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

SLUSH STILL ON: Sewage overflow post-rains has become a common problem in the city.

CHENNAI: Rain may have abated and water-logging receded but complaints about sewage overflow continue in the city.

Localities such as Virugambakkam, Koyambedu, Velachery, Adyar and Tondiarpet have a chronic problem of sewage overflow. Heavy rain this year also caused overflow of sewage in localities such as Kilpauk.

G. Umapathy, a resident of Perambur High Road First Street, said the Perambur High Road experienced several episodes of sewage leaks. The locality is still affected by sewage seepage from manholes.

In Velachery, Chennai Metrowater is now able to pump out sewage from low-level areas of Sarathy Nagar, Annai Indra Nagar and Baby Nagar.

The officials have made temporary pumping arrangements as a manhole crumbled at Varadarajapuram Main Road in Velachery. However, residents said that areas such as Anna Nagar Venus Colony and VOC Street still experience sewage leaks. S. Kumararaja, secretary, Federation of Velachery Welfare Associations, said Metrowater officials need to address the problem of broken manholes immediately. Several residents of Villivakkam and Anna Nagar West complained that they receive sewage mixed drinking water.

Responding to the residents’ woes, Metrowater officials said the sewer network in the city normally carries a load of 440 million litres a day. But, during the week-long heavy showers, the pipeline took almost double its load capacity as rainwater was also diverted into the network. This, in turn, led to sewer leak in the heavily water-logged areas. Besides silt flushed in by the rain, the dumping of garbage into manholes also made sewer cleaning a difficult task and led to delay in rectifying the problem, an official said.

The sewer pipeline running up to a distance of about 70 kms of the total 2,900 km was improved as part of the Chennai City River Conservation project (CCRCP). Besides strengthening the capacity of pumping stations, more sewage treatment plants were constructed.

Metrowater has identified 90 locations where sewer network needs to be strengthened and works at an estimated cost of Rs.176 crore would be taken up in shortly. Besides increasing the pumping station capacity, the sewer pipeline diameter in Virugambakkam would also be increased.