UGD works in Salem to be completed by 2027, says Corporation Commissioner

The underground drainage (UGD) works that began in 2024 in Salem city will be completed in another two years, said Salem Corporation Commissioner M. Elangovan, in response to the demands from political parties and residents to complete the works soon.

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, through a government order issued in February 2006, announced that UGD works will be implemented in Salem city at a total cost of ₹149.39 crore. This amount includes ₹78.85 crore from the Corporation fund and public contribution, a loan of ₹60.54 crore from the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project (TNUDP) and a ₹10 crore government subsidy. The works, which were divided into three phases, lasted for more than 15 years, due to many issues, including legal disputes. However, the Corporation was accused of failure to cover many areas and of incomplete works.

Following this, in 2024, the civic body announced UGD works once again to cover the remaining areas. This work, divided into four packages, is ongoing. 

K.C. Selvaraj, the AIADMK whip in Salem Corporation, said that the civic body planned to provide UGD connection for 432 km but has only completed 60 km. Without completing the works, the Corporation is demanding the residents to pay the UGD deposit amount. “How can the residents pay the amount without availing themselves of the facilities? The work is progressing at a slow pace and the Corporation should give more importance for the same,” he said.

Mr. Selvaraj also alleged that the tender for the third and fourth packages were not opened yet. Without completing the UGD works, roads cannot be laid. Once a road is laid, it could not be dug for three years. “It shows that the Salem Corporation will not complete the works for years,” he alleged.

The Commissioner said that as many as 15,750 houses have already received UGD connections. The work that started in 2024, at a total cost of ₹548 crore, will be completed by 2027. The project is aimed at providing UGD connections to 68,000 houses. The tender process for the third and fourth packages will start in a week. Through the earlier UGD works, core areas in the Suramangalam, Kondalampatti, and Ammapet zones were covered. Works are under way to cover the outer areas of these zones, he added.