CHENNAI: Singaara Chennai promoted during the previous DMK rule and the Ezhilmigu Chennai developed by present government have something in common: Poor planning of drains and overflowing sewage, both in old Chennai and the recently annexed suburban areas. While Greater Chennai Corporation has started providing stormwater drains and interior roads acknowledging the expansion of the city, Chennai metro water and sewerage board that governs the city sewer lines is yet to upgrade most of its connections and pumping stations over the recent years, admit MLAs and councillors in Chennai.
The sewage-pumping house at Nilamangai Nagar of Adambakkam built during the erstwhile Alandur municipality in 2003, is overloaded now, as it was constructed to cater to the population for five years. Two submersible motors of 80 hp each were recently erected to arrest overflowing of sewage water during rain. A visit to the pumping station revealed that an immediate bifurcation of the load was the need of the hour.
“The station connects over 27,000 lines from neighboring Palavanthangal, Nanganallur and Alandur. Sewage gets stagnated even after a slight shower, highly inconveniencing residents,” said Ward 165 councillor Naresh Kumar. Setting up of additional motors could be a temporary move, but does not work out in long run. Constructing a new substation at Nanganallur will ease up our lives, said R. Krishnan, joint secretary of Nilamangai Nagar Welfare Association.
Alandur MLA, T.M. Anbarasan told Deccan Chronicle there is a dearth in funds to set up a sub station. “Connections in certain areas will be split to Ullagaram sub station as we cannot afford '1 crore for another substation,” he added. But the fact that Ullagaram station is halted, after the National Green Tribunal issued a stay means that Alandur residents should put up with sewerage overflow for many more years.
Sewer overflow had not spared Egmore developed mainly by British. “Constructed over 25 years ago, the pumping station at KM garden, needs an up gradation to manage the increasing population. The locality gets logged with sewage just after half an hour’s rain. How can a station built to cater to one lakh population be sufficient for over 2,24,000 now?” said Egmore MLA K.S. Ravichandran.
On the other hand, Mogappair west faces similar problem as sewage pumping station works have not accelerated in Reddypalayam Road and Mogappair West.
