Chennai Corporation’s ongoing desilting drive may worsen situation
The prospect of even getting out of their houses has become a harrowing thought for residents of many parts of the city. A putrid smell has settled over these areas due to the delay in removing the sediments collected from stormwater drains.
Residents of areas ranging from T. Nagar to Choolai complain of potential health hazards because of accumulation of silt. “ They started work last Monday and work is under way. But they have not bothered to remove the silt even after seven days. The whole area ends up stinking and we are afraid of diseases breaking out,” said D. Suresh, a resident of Choolai.
Santosh, another resident, expressed anxiety over children playing in the street. The entire stretch of the road is blocked because of the sediments, he added.
Residents of areas such as Neelakanta Mehta Street and Raja Street in T.Nagar voiced similar concerns.
The problem is likely to worsen with desilting work picking up in many more localities in view of the Chennai Corporation’s deadline of July 31 for completion of desilting of stormwater drains as part of the pre-monsoon preparedness. Of the 1400 km of stormwater drains in the the city, 400 km have been desilted so far and work on desilting another 1000 km will be completed soon, according to the Corporation estimates.
Councillors in some areas are supervising the desilting work and taking efforts to ensure the slit is removed as quickly as possible. “The work started in our ward two days ago. We have asked the contractor to remove the silt quickly and ensure that the area is not polluted,” said Bhavanishankar, a councillor in ward 103.
Corporation officials said the silt is usually removed only after two to three days once its gets dried up.
The quantity of silt will be more if it is wet. The contractor has to show the measurement of the silt in dry conditions for receiving payment from the civic body.
“We are ensuring that there is no waste of funds because of improper measurement of silt,” said an official.
Another civic body official attributed the stench emanating from the silt to illegal sewer connections in stormwater drains many residential areas. “The drain should not be wet during dry season. Lakhs of illegal sewer connections in these drains are yet to be plugged.”
Keywords: Chennai corporation, roads, health hazards, silt,
I agree with Pritiga. Much as I am appalled by the apathy of the
"Corporation", and its inaction cannot be justified as such, I must say
that this is going to be so not just in T.Nagar, or Chennai, but the
whole of India, unless we too make an effort to keep our neighbourhoods
and cities clean. We have lost all bargaining power with the
"authorities" simply because we are not any better when it comes to
discharging our civic duties. It is the behavior of the public that
influences polity.
Desliting has to be done. Yes it could be done in such a way not to bother the public. But will the public not be a nuisance by not trashing their neighbourhood with plastic, paper and waste. Will they ever stop dumping diapers, napkins, and other trash into the open. Will they stop using shampoo sachets or any sachets and children stop throwing containers, lids and gum covers in the road. Will they stop sounding their music, cell phone ring tones in public. Will they stop polluting the place using petrol and doing emission checks.. They can bear with all the stench and more if they cannot do anything to improve the conditions. Also let them remember that their children have to face worse..all the gold and money they store cannot save them.
The silt from storm water drains is not at all a problem when compared
to the Corporation's attitude of leaving the silt from the drainage
lines in the centre of the street. The waste taken out from drainage
lines are left to dry and spread over whole stretches of roads. This is
unheard of even in the least developed nations. The corporation should
at least desist from endangering its citizens even it doesn't care of
protecting them from diseases. The CM who advised the councillors to be
proactive has to look into these matters too.
Whichever agency is entrusted with the job of removing the dirt
should also be entrusted with the job of collecting the dirt and
deposit them in manure composting ground.
its pathetic to see Chennai roads and street flooded with silt... i don't know whether these administration officers are foolish or they
think public as fools. It's such a good idea to remove silt from flood
water drains before monsoon but if it is not coordinated with the
waste removal there is no point in whole of this exercise . either
this silt goes back to drain again wn it rains or it makes the
environment poor to live.. we got a educated CM, mayor and
administration officers but still these ppl lacks all common sense
lacks when it is a public project.... hope things will change...
thanks hindu to highlight this issue and hope the so called officers
read it and take steps.
I am appalled by the corporation comments towards at the end of the article. How can the corporation say it has to dry up and measured before paying the contractor for removing the silt.
Can the contract not be adjusted to be measure the silt in wet condition. This is being pennywise pound foolish at the cost of public health.
Common authorties please use common sense and give your best.
Sunilkumar
Why can't the corporation bring in trucks and take the silt away as soon as it is dug up?
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