To ensure safe disposal of faecal sludge in residential areas in local bodies, a State-level project management unit will soon be started, K. Phanindra Reddy, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, said here on Friday.
Launching the project ‘Tuymai’ (cleanliness), that ensures safe and sustainable faecal sludge management service delivery in Namakkal Municipality and Erumapatty Town Panchayat, he said that individual sanitation issue has now become a common issue that cannot be avoided. “People should come forward to construct toilets as per norms in their houses.”
He said that underground drainage (UGD) works were implemented in 21 corporations and municipalities and work is in progress in 20 municipalities. “We need Rs. 20,000 crore for implementing UGD in 40 other municipalities which may take another five years for approval and construction. Instead of waiting for implementation, scientific and safe disposal of faecal sludge management will be given priority,” he added.
Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy said that about 40 per cent of the population is in towns and providing drinking water and ensuring sanitation is a challenging task. Since UGD need more funds and takes time for implementation, faecal sludge can be collected and transported safely to the sewage treatment plant located at a particular place.
The project is funded by Arghyam Foundation and being implemented by LEAF Society, Namakkal in partnership with Athena Infonomics and Transerve Technologies. Prakash Govindasamy, Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, said that 10 lakh households will be covered under the UGD in two years. Rajendra Ratnoo, Director, Directorate of Town Panchayat, Sathiya Nesan, Director, Leaf Society, Deepa Karthykeyan, Director, Athena Infonomics, and Neelima Thota, Director, Urban Programme, Arghyam Foundation, also spoke.
