Plagued by sewage, suburbs plead for STPs to save dying waterbodies

Scores of residential areas began sprouting in the city suburbs, as more people began to factor in availability of groundwater as a crucial criterion while choosing their home. While they were all quiet neighbourhoods acted as an advantage, so was the presence of lakes and ponds that ensured groundwater table recharge and also provided the much needed tranquillity in the otherwise chaotic city life.

However, it has all changed in just a few years, as is clear from a visit to some of the residential areas like the ones near Retteri in Kolathur and Korattur lake.

In the absence of sewage network, the wastewater is now draining into these waterbodies, polluting them beyond acceptable limits and even killing fish in them. The water from them cannot be used for domestic purposes anymore, let alone being potable.

According to residents of Kolathur, the water in Retteri lake is now filled with sewage, and the situation becomes worse during rains when the area becomes inundated with sewage-mixed floodwater.

“The wastewater stagnates quite often, forcing us to walk through it. During rain, the situation gets worse, as the floodwater gets mixed with sewage and enters our houses even after moderate showers,” said A Ravi, Gangai Amman Koil Street, Retteri. The people here have raised the issue with Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water) several times, but that has not brought about any results so far, he added.

The situation is similar in the areas surrounding the Korattur lake. The people here lament about having to wade through three feet of sewage water whenever it rains. “Though we complained many times to officials of Greater Chennai Corporation and Metro Water, no steps have been taken so far. Six months ago, Metro Water officials visited the place and said they will build a sewage treatment plant (STP) before the onset of the monsoon. But work has not started till now,” said Niresh Babu, a resident of Bharath Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Korattur.

Recently, hundreds of fish were found dead in Ambattur lake, which is severely polluted by illegal sewage inlets from the nearby residential areas. Ambattur Waterbody Protection Movement member SP Nedumaran pointed out that there was no sewage connection for buildings in Ayappakkam and Annanur, due to which sewage was let off into the lake.

“When we urged the Metro Water officials to set up STP to avoid sewage in the lake, they said it is a long process that would take time,” he added.

According to environment activist Darwin Annadurai, those discharging sewage into waterbodies should be charged under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. “In many residential localities, sewage is discharged into the storm water drains. Commercial establishments and residential high-rises should construct STP and greywater treatment plants,” he said.

“Control and treatment of sewage and grey water should form an important part of the restoration plan for the water bodies. Without finding a solution for sewage discharge mere desilting does not convert water quality of the lake to a usable state,” he added.