Complaints over sewage system dominate Tiruchi Corporation Council meeting

Complaints over sewage overflow from manholes, delay in implementation of underground drainage (UGD) work, bad condition of roads in the city, and the need for installation of adequate number of street lights were some of the issues raised at the Tiruchi Corporation Council meeting on Friday.

Councillors L. Rex, representing Ward 39, and K. Ramesh of Ward 46 raised complaints about overflowing manholes and sewage water backing up into residents’ toilets, particularly in the Tiruverumbur area, where Phase II of the UGD project is under way. They attributed the issue to poor quality work carried out by the project’s contractor, who has reportedly abandoned the work following the deaths of workers during manhole cleaning in Tiruverumbur, recently.

Mayor M. Anbazhagan, who chaired the meeting, announced that a new agency would be engaged to handle the maintenance of the 14 lifting stations and three pumping stations for six months and the issues of sewage seepage and overflow would be addressed on priority.

A section of councillors pointed out that UGD work had not been taken up in certain areas while in some of the completed stretches, the dug-up roads were yet to be restored. Responding to the concerns, Mr. Anbazhagan said that steps would be taken to include the pending areas in the next phase of the project. The damaged roads would be repaired and that ₹20 lakh per zone had been allocated to carry out the repair work, which would be expedited.

Councillor Khajamalai Vijay expressed concern over the delay in commencing the Phase IV UGD work in his area, stating that his ward had been neglected. In response, the Mayor explained that since the area consists largely of boulders and rocky subsurface, chemical blasting would be undertaken. He added that an estimate had been prepared and a trial would be carried out in the coming week.

Councillor V. Leela of Ward 49 raised the issue of an inadequate number of electricians to maintain the streetlights. She pointed out that each electrician is currently assigned to look after four to five wards. In response, Mr. Anbazhagan said that additional workers would be hired, and each electrician allotted three wards. He added that around 50 new street lights had been sanctioned for each ward.

Corporation Commissioner L. Madhubalan and Deputy Mayor G. Dhivya were present.