The Tamil Nadu government had sanctioned crores of rupees to plug sewage outfall into the Cooum, but contract workers of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board have been pumping sewage water into the stormwater drains.


On one hand the state government is spending over Rs 100 crore for prevention of sewage overflow into the Cooum, on the other, Metrowater is polluting it by letting out untreated sewage into the already-polluted river through stormwater drains.

The ambitious Cooum beautification project, if successful, can turn out to be a jewel in the DMK government's crown. Deputy chief minister M K Stalin had visited Singapore recently to study how they had cleaned up the Singapore river. The government had also sanctioned crores of rupees to plug sewage outfall into the Cooum.

But for the past three days on Vembulli Amman Koil Street in Virugambakkam, contract workers of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) have been pumping out sewage water from manholes and letting it into the stormwater drains.

"In European countries, it is criminal offence to let out sewage into stormwater drains. When the drain overflows during monsoon, the sewage enter the sumps and pollutes drinking water," said A Narayanan, a resident of the locality who fought for banning manual scavenging.

If the sewage is let into stormwater drains, residents ask, then what is the need for the sewer network? "It is important that the state government brings out a stringent rule to stop emptying of waste water into stormwater drains. "In some parts of the suburbs, lorries empty sewage water which is collected directly from the sumps," said Narayanan.

Read More on: Times Of India