‘Municipality releases sewage into waterbodies’

The Pallavaram Municipality, which consists of 42 wards, is one of the important neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Chennai. The residents here alleged that the underground drainage system in the locality was clogged and not functioning properly. They have requested the Municipality to take steps to repair the UGD several times, but there was no proper response to the pleas, they claimed.

According to sources, the water from the lakes that were brimming due to recent rain in Pallavaram and surrounding areas was linked to the Keelkatalai lake. The residents said that while the water was released to Keelkatalai lake, the Municipality was releasing sewage into it.

V Santhanam, a social activist said, “First, the Municipality mixed drainage into the Nemilichery lake and then went to Veeraragavan lake and now they had even started to drain waste water to the Puteri lake. Many times, we have requested the municipality to repair the drainage. But they have not taken any steps. We are planning to organise a big protest soon.”

As the released water flows through Puteri, Ayshvarya Nagar and Santhi Nagar, the residents in the locality rued that their quality of life has taken a big hit as the area is surrounded by drainage almost every day. “Most of us are getting infected with viral fever and many other diseases. The stench permeates the area and now it has become a major source for mosquito breeding,” said Dinesh from Pallavaram.

When contacted, R Ravichandran, Municipal Engineer, said, “We are working on it and soon the drainage will be repaired. As there is no other option, we are dumping them near the lake for now. But everything will be cleared soon.”