A sewage pipeline along the Thirumylai MRTS Station has trouble holding up under stress. In just two weeks, it has broken thrice, spilling its contents into the Buckingham canal, over which it runs. Recently, with some welding and a concrete mixture, the cavity was plugged. The exercise has evoked a mixed response. “It’s good for now. The question is: How long?”— that is the response of most residents. They believe there is no alternative to replacing the old pipelines.
“The pipelines here are at least three decades old and have not been changed since they were first laid. The frequent pipeline burst happens because the sewage is pumped at a high pressure to the treatment plants. Being so old, the pipelines are unable to withstand the pressure," said C.R. Balaji a civic activist and resident of Mandaveli.
He thanked the the Chennai MetroWater Supply and Sewage Board and Mylaore MLA R. Nataraj, who took prompt action. He has sought replacement of the pipelines at the earliest, as the old pipelines are likely to burst again and fill Buckingham Canal with more sewage. An Assistant Executive Engineer of CMWSSB said they were taking steps to release sewage through alternate pipelines. The department is also planning to replace the old and damaged pipelines. The official said the work could take about eight months to complete.
Dumping of garbage
Besides the sewage problem, residents are upset over garbage being dumped along the canal. Waste from MRTS station is sometimes dumped along the canal and repeated complaints to the sanitary inspector have yielded results. Balaji further said that tipplers also add to the pollution as they dump alcohol bottles, plastic plates and cups along the canal and have turned the place into a urinal.
