A decade after its inception, the project to provide underground sewerage network in Ambattur is only now nearing completion. However, residents complain that the yet-to-be-commissioned network has ironically already begun to function — thanks to illegal connections.
This reality of illegal sewer connections came to light in a surprising manner.
Residents of Venkatapuram noted that several roads in the area were getting paved and work was on to increase the height of the manholes so that they were level with the road.
S. Raghuraman, a resident of Venkatapuram, said, “When the new manholes were opened to raise them to the road level, we realised that sewage was flowing inside Murugappa Reddy First Cross Street. A few residents have illegally connected sewage lines to the network that is yet to be commissioned. Chennai Metrowater authorities have assured us that such connections will be blocked.”
Residents said as the network was yet to be connected with pumping stations at several locations, sewage collected in the manholes might get blocked and stagnant sewage in the unfinished structures might pose a health hazard. The delay in completing underground sewerage project at Ambattur had led to an increase in illegal connections, they complained.
B. R. Prasad, a resident of Vijayalakshmipuram, said that at a few points, people who did not have septic tanks, laid pipes for a depth of two or three feet and connected them to the nearest manhole.
Earlier, vacant lands and open drains constructed to carry floodwater were used to let out sewage.
Residents demanded that the project, which was initiated a decade ago, must be completed soon in the entire locality and house service connections must be provided. They recalled that they paid Rs.7,500 as deposit towards sewerage connections in 2001 and were yet to get connections. Sources in Metrowater said that nearly 90 per cent of the work had been completed and work was on to provide house service connections in areas such as Banu Nagar, Krishnapuram, Cholapuram and Ram Nagar.
Special camps are being conducted to enable residents to register applications. Residents otherwise would have to visit the head office to submit applications.
Residents of Ambattur have been waiting for almost a decade to get connections
