Lorries dump sewage in Muttukadu lake, say residents

Chhaya Devi, a resident of Modern Layout in Padur, said that over the last six months, lorries have been dumping sewage and garbage into the waterbody during the night.

“Muttukadu has become a dumping yard, with lorries dumping sewage on the opposite side, which is not very evident. Earlier, we would walk to Muttukadu lake, and speak to the visitors and children who came boating. The water was clean.

But now, we cannot even access the lake because of the garbage dumped here by the lorries. This is a huge health risk, not only for residents, but also to people who use the lake.

If we don’t act now, Muttukadu lake will become a bigger dumping ground that Pallikarnai marshland,” she said, adding that complaints to the police and the local body have been made.

When contacted, Thyagarajan from the Padur Town Panchayat said that they will clear the area in question immediately. “To put a stop to the entry of the vehicles, we are planning to fence off the locality,” he said, adding that the sewage dumping doesn’t come under their jurisdiction.

The fast-developing OMR lacks an underground drainage system, forcing the residents to invest to dispose their sewage.

However, for convenience, companies dump sewage into waterbodies during the night. Complaints about illegal sewage and garbage dumping are on the rise.

But the police can only do so much, said an official from the Kelambakkam police station.

“Last month, we filed cases against three offenders. Over the last three months, we have filed ten cases. But since this is considered as a petty crime, we can only levy a fine. The offenders pay a fine ranging between Rs 1,000-1,500 and leave. For a permanent solution, complaints should be made to the Revenue Department, who will cancel the permit of the offenders for violations,” said the official.