CHENNAI: Illegal discharge of sewage on land belonging to the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), along with widespread garbage dumping, has turned a stretch along New Avadi Road behind the Railway Museum bus stop (on the stretch towards Anna Nagar) into an eyesore, prompting residents to demand swift intervention from authorities.
CMWSSB officials said that only drinking water pipelines run beneath the area and ruled out leakage from sewer mains. They attributed the issue to unauthorised household sewage discharge.
However, during a visit, DT Next found the site overgrown with bushes and fallen trees, and sewage stagnating through a small pipe across the land. Plastic and household waste were dumped on the slopes, while some people were seen disposing of fish and animal waste. The spot has also become a dumping ground where cattle graze on plastic and is frequently used for open defecation.
For the past two weeks, I’ve seen sewage stagnating opposite the ICF Furnishing Division. There are no warning boards. Compactor bins must be placed here immediately to prevent littering,R Saravanan, a resident of Ayanavaram.
A pedestrian said strict penalties were essential to control dumping. “Waste is burned here regularly. The area looks terrible. Authorities must clear the site immediately,” the pedestrian added.
Admitting the problem, a CMWSSB official said that the assistant engineers would be instructed to inspect and resolve the issue at the earliest. Another official stated, “The dumping is a recent development linked to nearby buildings. Repeated requests to the Corporation to clear waste and install barricades have not helped.”
Dismissing the claims, a Corporation official, said: “The land belongs to Metro Water and its upkeep is their responsibility. The Corporation has no authority to remove waste from the site.”