Puzhuthivakkam open drain raises the hackles of residents

CHENNAI: An open stormwater channel on Ramalingam Nagar main road in Puzhuthivakkam has become a dumping site for sewage and garbage with no action from the civic authorities to cover the channel.

Residents of the area said the drain was built in 2009 when the area was not under the city corporation, but no effort has been made to rebuild it with concrete to prevent water stagnation and dumping of garbage.

“The channel, which is supposed to carry rainwater to Veerangal Odai, has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes because of the garbage. Many houses in the area lack proper sewage connections, as a result they release waste into this channel,” said M Sekharan, a resident of Ramalinga Nagar.

Another resident, P Rajappa, said despite several complaints to corporation and metro water, there has been no action, forcing the residents to file petitions in the high court.

“Two roads in this area were laid only after we approached the court. For civic issues, we are forced to file petitions,” said Rajappa.

“There is another petition regarding the open stormwater channel that will be coming up for hearing soon. We are living without basic necessities like proper roads and functional water and sewage connections, despite paying water tax,” he added.

“The drain connects to Ramkumar Street and Srinivasa Nagar main road but the water flow is not uninterrupted. The water doesn’t flow into Veerangal Odai,” said Rajappa. He added that the corporation only cleans the channel ahead of monsoon.

Corporation officials from the zone said that prompt action is taken based on residents’ complaints. “We clean and dredge the drain as and when there are complaints. The drain was cleaned a few days ago,” said a civic engineer.

He added that tenders to construct the stormwater drain are likely will be floated in March. “There is a need for a new 1-km long drain along Ramalinga Nagar main road. Tenders will be floated in the next two months,” said the official.