Sewage stagnation abutts the backyard

CHENNAI: Deterioration of ground water quality, mosquito menace and a nauseating stench is increasing these days. The stagnation of sewage along the unfinished canal abutting the southern sector of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) has become a headache for the local residents.The Public Works Department is constructing sewer canals on both sides of the southern sector of the Inner Ring Road (IRR), which connects GST Road in St Thomas Mount and Velachery. The work for the canal is adjacent to Adambakkam and Velachery on one side and Puzhuthivakkam on the other. Besides linking the Veerangal Odai to Velachery MRTS intersection, the canal also provides connectivity to some local neighbourhoods. According to residents, the sewage on the Puzhuthivakkam side had seeped into the open wells in several houses. Said K Karpagam, a resident of Balaji Nagar 21ststreet, “The sewage crosses the unfinished canal and stagnates all through the open space up to the backyard of many houses in this locality. Due to continuous stagnation, the waste water has seeped into the well contaminating the ground water. I had to completely drain the well. As the stagnation continues, I’m worried like others here.”When asked on the complaint of residents, a PWD official denied the charge that sewage stagnated on the Puzhuthivakkam side. “In some points, the speed may be very less due to several factors including narrow spacing and residents might experience some difficulties. This problem would cease to exist when we finish the canal work.”Explaining further, he said the department was now focusing on finishing the work on the northern side which abuts Adambakkam and Velachery. Only 400 meters of land area needs to be covered by the canal and this is likely to be over shortly. “Once we are done with it, we would stop sewage on the Puzhuthivakkam side and complete the work for canal. Residents may have to put up with the inconvenience only for a short while,” he assured.