Sewage-filled Buckingham Canal deters Mahab tourists

According to locals, tankers discharge sewage water collected from private premises in the neighbourhood into the canal during the night. As a result, the canal which used to attract migratory birds presently is now a no-go place for the winged visitors, they said.

This has also had a considerable impact on tourism as Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO world heritage site, attracts hundreds of visitors every day. Rajendran, a tourist from Puducherry who recently visited the nearby Tiger Cave, a popular attraction, said, “Tourists intending to see the Tiger Cave hesitate to cross the canal as the stench is unbearable.

We could not spend more time in the cave because of the nauseating smell.”

Locals allege the culprits damage the street lamps as the cover of darkness is convenient for them to release the sewage into the canal. “Those responsible for the illegal activity throw down the gauntlet by asking us to do whatever we can to stop them,” said a resident, requesting anonymity.

When contacted, Mahabalipuram town panchayat sanitary inspector Sridhar told DT Next that security guards have been appointed to keep a check on dumping during the day.

“But we can’t deploy guards during the night. We have already warned people doing this but there has been no improvement.

We will soon file a police complaint in this regard and those responsible will be brought to book,” he said.