Residents of many streets in Royapettah are saddled with a new problem ever since sewage lines were re-laid. They allege that for nearly six months now, they are finding their drinking water mixed with sewage. It is a recurrent complaint ever since the pipelines were extended.
Mylapooran Street and Kolaikaranpettai Streets are off Gowdia Mutt Road, Royapettah, and have both sewage and Metro water lines. Residents are happy that they get Metro water supply every alternate day. “Last year, Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewage Board undertook work to lay an extra pipe but it was a shoddy job. Since then, the water we are getting at home is contaminated. Sometimes, foul smell comes from water,” says K. Nagalakshmi, a long-time resident of Mylapooran Street. This problem has raised the demand for canned water. Walk along the narrow Mylapooran Street and Kolaikaranpettai, empty bubble top cans can be seen outside most houses.
D. Uma, a homemaker, says she has been four water cans a week, for the last six months. “I never had to buy canned water as we get Metro water every alternate day. But, after the sewage lines were re-laid, the water has become unfit for drinking. The need is more for those with a bigger families,” says the resident of Kolaikaranpettai First Street. Puddles of water were seen stagnant at some corners on Kolaikaran Petai and Mylapooran Streets. Residents of Mylapooran Street Welfare Association have represented the matter to Metro water but have not found any solution.
“The interlocking was probably not done properly, so there is leakage,” says M. Munuswamy, temple treasurer. Counsellor of Ward 119 Vasantha says she has solved many issues of residents in the neighbourhood and she will look into the matter.
