TRICHY: Even though only 31% of Trichy city is covered by underground drainage (UGD) sewage system, unattended lapses in the existing infrastructure is defeating the purpose of the sub-surface sewage network.
Residential areas covered under UGD network are still discharging wastewater into stormwater drains which eventually merge thereby polluting freshwater canals in the city. Residents expect the council which will be elected after five years to resolve the sewage issue across all 65 wards.
Corporation sources said there are only 63,527 residential and commercial underground drainage connections, which constitute 28% of the total properties in the city. Since the 1980s, parts of the city including Woraiyur, Varaganeri, Thennur, Rockfort and Srirangam have received a UGD network in different phases, but it covers the neighborhoods only partially.
New households that were constructed after the installation of UGD have not connected to the network, with technical reasons such as altitude differences and poor enforcement cited as reasons. As the decades-old sewage pipelines have diameters as low as 12 inches, they have become incapable of managing the current sewage capacity. Hence, the houses and establishments discharge wastewater into stormwater drains.
The stormwater drain network supposed to carry only surplus rainwater to rivers is being used as sewage discharge point. “Corruption in securing new UGD connections also discourages residents. Streamlining the UGD network is the need of the hour to safeguard canals,” S Pushpavanam, secretary, consumer protection council, Tamil Nadusaid.
Frequent clogging of sewer networks due to the absence of filtering mechanisms in houses and commercial establishments also affects the roads. While residents show slackness in using UGD, Trichy corporation fails to sensitise erring residents using government-supported sanitation projects such as CWIS and TNUSSP exclusively available in the city. The deviation in septic tank design and houses completely lacking septic tanks were serious issues too that require the attention of the civic body.
Ironically, as Trichy corporation planned to renovate the existing UGD network at a cost of Rs 210 crore under the smart cities mission, the project was recently suspended citing practical difficulties. “Since the municipal administration minister is also from the city, we will find solutions to fund the projects to enhance the basic amenities including sewage network,” Mu Anbalagan, the former deputy mayor and DMK candidate for ward 27, told TOI.
Residential areas covered under UGD network are still discharging wastewater into stormwater drains which eventually merge thereby polluting freshwater canals in the city. Residents expect the council which will be elected after five years to resolve the sewage issue across all 65 wards.
Corporation sources said there are only 63,527 residential and commercial underground drainage connections, which constitute 28% of the total properties in the city. Since the 1980s, parts of the city including Woraiyur, Varaganeri, Thennur, Rockfort and Srirangam have received a UGD network in different phases, but it covers the neighborhoods only partially.
New households that were constructed after the installation of UGD have not connected to the network, with technical reasons such as altitude differences and poor enforcement cited as reasons. As the decades-old sewage pipelines have diameters as low as 12 inches, they have become incapable of managing the current sewage capacity. Hence, the houses and establishments discharge wastewater into stormwater drains.
The stormwater drain network supposed to carry only surplus rainwater to rivers is being used as sewage discharge point. “Corruption in securing new UGD connections also discourages residents. Streamlining the UGD network is the need of the hour to safeguard canals,” S Pushpavanam, secretary, consumer protection council, Tamil Nadusaid.
Frequent clogging of sewer networks due to the absence of filtering mechanisms in houses and commercial establishments also affects the roads. While residents show slackness in using UGD, Trichy corporation fails to sensitise erring residents using government-supported sanitation projects such as CWIS and TNUSSP exclusively available in the city. The deviation in septic tank design and houses completely lacking septic tanks were serious issues too that require the attention of the civic body.
Ironically, as Trichy corporation planned to renovate the existing UGD network at a cost of Rs 210 crore under the smart cities mission, the project was recently suspended citing practical difficulties. “Since the municipal administration minister is also from the city, we will find solutions to fund the projects to enhance the basic amenities including sewage network,” Mu Anbalagan, the former deputy mayor and DMK candidate for ward 27, told TOI.
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