THIRUVOTRIYUR: Sewage, garbage poses threat to fishermen

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on May 11, 2011:

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/sewage-garbage-poses-threat-to-fishermen/273241.html

CHENNAI: Uncleared garbage and stagnant sewage inside a residential area pose a major threat to the families of around 400 fishermen living in Thiruchinang Kuppam in Thiruvottiyur Municipal limits.

Garbage collection in the area, which is part of Ward no-28 in the municipality, has been privatised and the local residents complain that the conservancy staff never turn up at the colony to clear the refuse. The residents say that they are forced to dump their rubbish on the roadside.

The colony, which was constructed some 20 years ago by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board to rehabilitate the families of fishermen who had lived nearby in huts for years, lacked basic amenities. Repeated representation to the civic body, which was vested with the power of maintaining the colony, to rectify the problems only fell on deaf ears, according to Muniyammal, a resident of the colony.

Besides the issue of uncleared garbage, stagnation of sewage overflowing from damaged sewer system continues to be a threat to the health of the residents, especially children.

According to MD Sekar, AIADMK councillor and floor leader for the party in Thiruvottiyur Municipality, “Complaints of uncleared garbage reach us from all the wards in the civic body as the conservancy operation here is in doldrums.”

There is no straight answer from the Municipal chairman Jayaraman or the authorities concerned while the issue is continuously raised in Council meetings, lamented Sekar.

The drainage system at the colony is often clogged and never attended to, leading to an overflow of sewage. The sewage has now created a cesspool in the colony, where garbage was also seen strewn, a tell-tale sign of months of neglect.

The Commissioner of the municipality, S Kalaiselvan, when contacted by City Express, said that they had not received any complaint about uncleared garbage from the locality. However, he admitted that the drainage overflow had been brought to his notice several times by the local people.

Kalaiselvan further said, “We have planned to set up a new drainage facility along the stretch and even work orders were issued for it. The works, which were halted due to the election code of conduct, will start soon.”

Once the new system was in place, all the problems related to sewage overflows in Thiruchinang Kuppam and other surrounding areas would be rectified, Kalaiselvan said.