High charges deter Ambattur residents from getting sewage connections

CHENNAI: Infrastructure and Development Charges (IDC) levied by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has deterred most apartment owners in Ambattur from getting sewage connections.

The onus of paying IDC, currently at `134 per sq metre, is on building promoters who construct apartments within Corporation limits. However, for Ambattur, which came under the Corporation’s jurisdiction as late as 2011, the onus has fallen on flat owners to pay the charges to avail of sewage connections.

“Most flats were built before Ambattur became part of the Corporation and they are yet to get sewage connections because they either cannot afford the IDC or simply refuse to pay it,” said S Suresh, general secretary of the Federation of Ambattur Residents’ Welfare Associations (FARWA). “The IDC is collected in addition to connection charges and is an unfair burden,” Suresh, a resident of Thiruvengadam Nagar, told Express.

Claiming that property tax rates are higher for Ambattur (since it came within Corporation limits recently), FARWA president D Solai said, “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that sewage is safely disposed of without imposing exorbitant, unnecessary charges like the IDC.”

A predominantly lower-middle class locality, most of the families here live on monthly salaries. “People crib about giving even maintenance charges,” said S Subash from Sai Vardhan flats in Thiruvengadam Nagar, which has 30 dwellings.

“We had a meeting last year, but people refused to contribute for the IDC as it comes to more than `2 lakh. But they are okay with paying connection charges,” he said.  Solai of Oragadam, a prime residential area, claimed that more than 30 flats are yet to get connections because they are unable to pay the IDC. “They feel cheated. Some can afford it, but they think it is like a daylight robbery,” he said.

Understanding that asking for a waiver was unreasonable, the FARWA had urged the CMWSSB to allow payment of IDC in instalments.  “This will enable people with prior commitments like home loans to take up the IDC burden,” said Nalendran, treasurer of FARWA.

When Express enquired with the CMWSSB on the possibility of such an arrangement, they said a mechanism that allowed payments in instalments was not feasible. “The IDC is a major source of revenue for the CMWSSB and is necessary for the body to ensure proper disposal of sewage in the city,” said a senior Metro Water official, who said the monthly charge after getting a connection was a pittance.
While the stalemate continues, it is the environment that bears the brunt of irresponsible disposal of sewage in the absence of sewage connections.

Most apartments let their sewage into storm water drains and it eventually drains into the Ambattur lake.
Residents claimed that sewage disposal lorries were initially hired, but the arrangement that cost around `1,500 for a mid-size flat has lost its sheen with mounting sewage loads.