The fragrance of sandal incense sticks wafting through the air along the northern side of the commercial complex around Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor can hardly suppress the stench for long.
It is something that tenants of the complex owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) have been putting up with for about a month now. Sewage water is overflowing there because of the blocks in the sewage line. Though the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium Lessees’ Association (JISLA) had written to the GCDA Secretary over a week ago, nothing has been done so far to address the problem even as the situation threatens to get worse.
“Initially, there was overflow of the polluted water at one point before it spread to a second spot and now threatens to expand to more areas. The intensity of the odour fluctuates depending on the usage and sometimes it becomes really unbearable. Some of the tenants have been coping with it by burning incense sticks,” said Ramachandran Nair, president, JILSA.
Health hazard
It is not just the tenants of the shopping complex who are at the receiving end. The stadium is also a favourite destination of joggers and walkers. The situation also poses a health hazard as many eateries function in the area.
“The international stadium is an important landmark in the city and it cannot be allowed to turn into a stinking mess,” Mr. Nair said. Officials from the engineering wing has already inspected the site.
Engineering department sources said that GCDA is seized of the matter. An estimate has been drawn up for rectifying the problem and a sanction is now being awaited to launch the work, they said.