The Chennai Metro Water officials conducted a door-to-door campaign in Anna Nagar West, Mogappair East and West and Ambattur on Thursday, urging residents to keep the sewer network free of garbage and other materials. Dumping of garbage has been a cause of concern for officials and residents, who often have to face sewage blocks.
The officials covered about 500 streets, including Ambattur Industrial Estate Road, where there are number of commercial establishments, and distributed pamphlets with ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of using the sewerage network such as ‘never throw cloths, rags, broken crockery's, cut pieces of vegetables/eatables into sewer system,’ ‘do not permit puncturing of manholes, removal of manhole covers,’ ‘do not dump cow dung and straw into the sewerage system.’ They were joined by resident-volunteers who spread awareness among the residents living in newly developed areas and areas that are yet to get sewerage connections.
One of the campaigners stressed that people should never allow rainwater to enter the sewer.
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Officials sounded a stern warning against dumping of hospital wastes into the sewer, which affect the free flow of sewage to the treatment plants. They pointed out that the Madras High Court has banned manual scavengers from entering manholes or septic tanks. For cleaning septic tanks or sewer network machines are available and should be put into use in case of a need, they said.
The officials have urged for residents’ cooperation and asked to register complaints on 4567 4567.