Metro Water to run tankers for sewage removal

According to a Metro Water official, the water manager has planned to procure 50 trucks in 2020. “These lorries will be operated in the newly-added areas, where the Board is yet to provide underground sewage connections,” he said.

Presently, several areas, including parts of Ambattur, Sholinganallur and others do not have underground sewage connection and the residents are forced to dispose of their sewage through private tankers.

“The residents pay huge amounts of money to private tanker owners. But we will provide the service at an affordable cost, although the amount is yet to be finalised. The move will also help control the illegal dumping of sewage into water bodies. Once the lorries are put into service, sewage from houses will be transported to treatment plants,” the official added.

Meanwhile, although the residents welcomed the move, they expressed discontent over the delay in the underground sewage pipeline works.

“For several years, we have been depending on water tankers for drinking water and sewage tankers to remove sewage. This is increasing maintenance charges in gated communities. Even though the lorries operated by the civic body would reduce the expenditure, but the expenses continue,” Raguram, a resident of Sholinganallur said.

On the other hand, “exorbitant” connection charges also keep the residents in newly-developed areas from opting for sewage connection from Metro Water. “Most residents in Ambattur are refusing to apply for sewage connection despite the completion of sewage network work in the area as the connection and IDC (Infrastructure and Development Charges) are high. Metro Water should reduce the charges,” S Suresh, a resident said. The water manager had already launched Illamthorum Inaippu and Azhaithal Ianippu schemes to provide sewage connections to the houses soon after the applications are sent and collect charges on EMI basis. “Currently, our target is to provide one lakh sewer connections in 2020 under the schemes,” the official said.