Drains, sewer lines not ready to cope with rain

[1]

The woes of Chennaiites are unlikely to end this northeast monsoon. Water stagnation and sewage overflows witnessed on some city roads after brief showers indicate that the drains and sewer lines are not ready to cope up with the monsoon. Wednesday’s 30-minute rain affected parts of Guindy, Nanganallur, Velachery and Madipakkam.

Mr Bhakthavatsalam, a resident of Madipakkam said, “Station Road, Guindy is in a pathetic state and the brief spell of rain on Wednesday evening made the road worse.

There are innumerable potholes on City Link Road and it’s difficult for motorists to cross this stretch due to water stagnation.”

“Many roads have been dug up in Nanganallur and Madipakkam for pipeline laying work. We hope that at least before the onset of the monsoon, the civic body will relay the roads,” he added.

Even without rains, residents of North Boag Road and Indira Nagar 3rd avenue have to cope with sewage overflow.

A resident of North BoagRoad said, “I’ve been residing here for five years now and sewage overflow has become a permanent problem.

Though we call Metro Water and they clear the block, the problem arises every four to six months. We are living in unhygienic surroundings.”

Residents of Indira Nagar Third Avenue also face similar issues. “Stench from the overflowing sewage from the underground drainage is unbearable,” said Mr R. Subramanian, a resident of Indira Nagar.

Meanwhile people cannot register complaints on the Chennai Metro Water website. RTI activist Mr Gopalakrishnan, a resident of MGR Nagar, complained that he had tried registering his complaint online without any success.

Worse, several components of the Rs 1,447 crore macro drainage programme, jointly implemented by PWD and the corporation to carry surplus water, have not been completed. “We hope the Metro Water and the Corporation act before the onset of monsoon,” added Mr Subramanian.