The stench from sewage overflowing from a drainage pit, located behind the time office at the bus terminus in Mogappair East, is keeping many residents and commuters from using the stretch where the terminus is located. Commuters board buses at the entrance of the terminus to avoid the stench. The problem, existing for the past few months due to poor maintenance of the sewer lines, has marred the move to refurbish the terminus. The initiative had been taken up a year ago by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and the terminus is now ready to open.
“Due to sewage stagnation, we avoid visiting the time office for enquires as the foul smell from the stagnation point is alarming,” says S. Vasuki, a commuter from J.J. Nagar.
For more than a month, residents and like-minded commuters have been visiting various local Metrowater offices requesting them to clean the drainage pit and de-clog the sewer lines.
However, Metrowater officials at each of these offices simply refuse to hear their petitions and claim that the terminus does not fall under their jurisdictions.
“I have visited all Metrowater offices in the neighbourhood and around the terminus but the response from the officials at these offices is that the facility does not fall under their limits. At least, they can guide us to the correct local Metrowater office. Instead, they simply refuse to entertain our pleas,” says Venketaramani, a long-time resident and an active social activist from Mogappair East.
In fact, for the past few weeks, Venketaramani and a group of residents have been running from one Metrowater office to another in the neighbourhood highlighting the issue of sewage overflow at the terminus. Among the offices they have visited are the one near the Mogappair East bus terminus on the 10 block and the one near the Velammal School. These offices represent Corporation ward 92 and 93 respectively. The Metrowater officials say the terminus does not have a sewer connection with the main sewer line on the Road. MTC officials have also not applied for new a sewer connection to the renovated bus terminus. The sewage problem that exists inside the terminus is internal clogging between the septic tank and the toilet inside the premises of the facility.
The problem should be addressed only by the MTC and not by Metrowater, say Metrowater officials. “We have received complaints from the residents and informed our higher officials. As the existing toilets and de-clogging of the septic tank and sewer lines do not form part of the renovation plan, we have to make a separate proposal to address the problem,” says an MTC official.
