Citizen Connect: Sewage seeping into stormwater drain riles residents of Sivasamy Road in Mylapore

CR Balaji, a local activist and resident said that sewage lines from the houses are not connected properly with the underground sewage chamber. “Instead, sewage lines are connected to stormwater drains. Apart from this, shops on the road also drain their waste water into the stormwater drain. I have raised a complaint with Chennai Corporation to stop the sewage discharge into the stormwater drains,” he added.

Explaining the action taken by the civic body, Balaji said that the workers had visited the spot based the complaint and opened the stormwater drains. “When we opened the drain, we found sewage and filth filling the stormwater drain,” he said.

According to the residents, the storm water drain on Sivasami Road was built two years ago the Metrowater had failed to provide sewage connection property to the underground sewer line.

Even though the Chennai Corporation workers visited the spot, they could only fumigate mosquito breeding inside the drain. “Residents are suffering from mosquito breeding due to the stagnant sewage water. Despite, the houses have legal connections, but they are improperly connected,” residents said.

After several complaints to the Chennai Corporation and Metrowater, the residents have sent a complaint to the Chief Minister’s cell, local MLA and MP urging them to rectify the issue.

“If the sewage lines from the houses are given properly, there would be no sewage issue in the area. Metrowater and Chennai Corporation should step in to prevent sewage entering stormwater drains,” a resident pointed out.

Another resident, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Metrowater would connect the sewage lines to storm water drains as the underground sewer lines are usually created on the middle of the road, while the stormwater drains would be close to the houses.

When contacted a Chennai Corporation official, he said that the sewage water enters the stormwater drains due to the improper connection. “We have informed the Metrowater about the issue,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Metrowater official has assured measures tosolve the problem.