Madipakkam residents raise stink over sewage

Chennai: Ramalinga Nagar First Extension and Cauvery Nagar areas in Madipakkam are battling health hazards and a stench caused by sewage overflow on streets and reverse flow into homes.
Sewage overflowing from manholes has also stagnated on roads and seeped into houses. Repeated complaints to the Metrowater assistant engineer have gone unanswered, said residents, adding that multiple pits had been dug up, but no resolution ensued. As of now, around 30 MLD of sewage has been picked up from Madipakkam through sewer lorries.
T Kavitha, a resident of Madipakkam, said, "For the past two weeks, sewage water has not drained out, and the manhole keeps letting sewer water out. Children playing on the streets face health risk as their cricket ball falls into the sewage and slush often."
S Arjun Kumar, another resident of the area, said they pay their taxes regularly. Yet, the promise of over a decade – to set up the sewer line properly – has not materialized in Madipakkam. Although the officials fix issues whenever alerted, no permanent solution has been found yet, he said.
A senior Metrowater official said 70% of underground sewer works have been completed in Madipakkam. He also said, "We have started giving connections to residents. Around 6,000 connections have been given so far. The leakages reported in the area will be fixed at the earliest."