The uncovered sewer drains that pose life-threatening danger to elders, children, and strangers have raised serious concern to the residents of Tiruchi city.
Though the percentage of covered drains has seen marginal increase in different parts of the city in the last few years, the problem, which badly needs the attention of civic authorities, is yet to be addressed in many areas of the city.
The Goodshed Road from Melapudur is a glaring example of the civic body’s negligence to the pressing issue. The storm water drain, constructed along the narrow road, is uncovered for about 40 metres at a stretch. It has remained so for several months posing danger to road-users.
Moreover, the open drain is almost the same height of the road. During rainy seasons, it’s hard to differentiate the road from the open drain.
“It is a dangerous road to walk or drive vehicles while raining. I have seen many elderly residents unknowingly falling into the open drain due to inundation. No one would really know whether they are walking on the road or about to fall into the drain,” said a shopkeeper on Goodshed road.
The situation is no better in other areas too. Some of the city’s busiest areas too face the same kind of problem due to the negligence of civic authorities on this front.
Though there is no real data available on uncovered drains, a rough estimate says that more than 30 percentage of drains are yet to be covered with slaps, stones, or iron sheets. Some of the residents point uncovered and damaged manholes in different parts of the town.
“It is a serious issue especially when pedestrians have to walk along roadsides, platforms, and pathways. These uncovered drains could claim precious lives. There is an urgent need to pay attention to the issue,” said K. Murugan of Srirangam.
The corporation should conduct a survey on uncovered sewer drains and manholes in the city limit. Immediate attention should be paid to at least thickly populated zones to prevent untoward incidents.
