Residents of several parts of Virugambakkam who have been affected by frequent sewage overflow for many years may soon get rid of the problem. Chennai Metrowater has initiated various measures, including construction of a small pumping station at Kulasekharapuram near Koyambedu and strengthening of sewerage network. It also aims to plug sewage outfalls and arrest pollution of the Cooum .
S.Gopalan, a resident of Sayee Nagar Annexe, said clogged drains and stagnant pools of sewage on the roads were a common occurrence almost every month.
Officials of Metrowater said work to lay a pipeline covering a stretch of 850 metre from Kulasekharapuram to Koyambedu sewage treatment plant (STP) is under way. It would be completed by this month end.
As there was response from the contractors to a tender floated for construction of the small pumping station worth Rs.77 lakh, the project has been divided into two components and fresh bids have invited. Sewage overflow in areas, including Saligramam and Sayee Nagar Annexe, would be curbed once the pumping station is commissioned in eight or nine months.
As a temporary measure, work has been initiated to install a pumpset inside a deep manhole in Kulasekharapuram. Work to strengthen the pumping station on Greams Road along the Cooum river is scheduled to be completed in June and it would help plug eight sewage outfalls.
On the steps to arrest pollution of the Cooum river, the officials said the Koyambedu STP, which has a capacity of 94 million litres a day, receives an additional load of 10 mld from adjacent suburbs such as Valasaravakkam and Ambattur. The treated sewage let into the Cooum is mainly from Koyambedu STP.
Steps are being taken to divert additional volume from the STP to Kodungaiyur STP through a pipeline. A detailed project is being prepared to construct another 120 mld capacity plant at Koyambedu.
About 60 sewage outfalls that have been identified would be plugged in a phased manner.
Besides issuing notices so far to four buildings without sewage connections close to Cooum river, Metrowater has also started preparing estimate to establish sewerage network in slums.
The estimates for provision of network in slums, including Link Road near Tamil Nadu Electricity Board head office and South Cooum Road, Chintadripet, are in final stages, an official said.
