Sewage flowing through airport troubles residents

On the southern side of Coimbatore International Airport, a stretch of the compound wall rests on iron grills. The grills are to allow the flow of water through a natural drain that enters the airport from the north, after cutting across Avinashi Road.

But with the flow of sewage, the grills have turned sieve as plastic and other solid waste get stuck at the iron rods, letting out only water. From the southern compound of the airport, the drain turns east, flows through Kurumbapalayam and ends at the tank in Kolathur.

Odour from the sewage flowing in the drain is now troubling residents of GKR Nagar, PLS Nagar, RG Pudur, AG Pudur and a few other areas in Ward 35 of the Coimbatore Corporation. It is becoming increasingly difficult to carry on day-to-day activities without being mindful of the odour, rues resident R. Marappan.

Though the odour pervades the localities throughout the day, it is particularly difficult in the evenings. That is when the flow also increases.

One end of the drain starts from near the Coimbatore Medical College on Avinashi Road to join another that comes from Nehru Nagar and Kalapatti at the SITRA Junction. Though it is a natural drain that used to carry rainwater during floods, it now carries sewage from industries, restaurants, healthcare facilities and other commercial establishments in the area.

Mr. Marappan says that the drain’s gradient after it exits the airport is not steep enough and therefore the sewage stagnates more than it flows. And, this adds to the residents’ problem.

K. Rajendran of AG Pudur says that along with the odour come mosquitoes - a menace that that they are finding difficult to control.

The residents are also worried about the long-term impact of sewage on the groundwater.

Officials in the civic body say that when the airport authorities complained about the sewage menace and threat of bird hit on aircraft , the civic body did install sieves at the openings of the culverts to filter out solid waste.

It has installed two such sieves (wire mesh) and if need arises it will install a few more. As for treating the sewage by installing micro sewage treatment plants, the officials say it is not under discussion, at least as of now.