Overflowing sewage and contamination of drinking water is posing a health hazard to residents of Srinivasa Iyengar Second Street, West Mambalam.
Most of the residents say lack of proper drainage system at the entrance of Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board’s (TNSCB) flats is the main cause for the problem.
“It is very common to see sewage stagnating on the road, which is because of poor construction of sewage chambers and frequent blockage in the pipeline.
“The stagnated sewage serves as a breeding ground for the mosquitoes. As mosquito menace has increased to alarming proportions, most of us keep our windows and doors closed,” say residents.
Residents of TNSCB flats are forced to endure stagnant pools while filling water from three ground-level Sintex water tanks. People residing opposite the flats complain about sewage mixing with drinking water stored in sumps.
“During Monsoon, sewage, mixed with rainwater, overflows from almost all the drainage channels and enters the sumps as the street is covered with layers of sandy subsoil,” residents point out.
They say that repeated complaints to Metrowater and Chennai Corporation to clear the overflowing sewage have fallen on deaf ears.
“We have made repeated representations asking the Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials to re-construct the sewage network. No action has been taken till date,” the residents allege.
Demand
“The authorities concerned should re-construct the leaking manual chambers and construct the required sewage lines. A wall should be built between the TNSCB flats and houses to prevent sewage water from entering the houses on the streets,” the residents add.
Responding to the complaints, Councillor (Ward No. 140) N. Baskaran said that there are plans to improve the drainage system in the street and it would be implemented within a short time.
