Chennai: The nexus of mismanaged infrastructure between the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has sparked recurrent sewage stagnation issues, leaving inhabitants in distress.
The heart of the issue stems from a recent road relaying initiative by the GCC, where despite efforts to expedite repair and maintenance across the city, critical oversights have exacerbated existing challenges. Notably, the elevation of concrete roads without corresponding adjustments to sewer chambers has inadvertently led to sewage overflow during monsoons. Residents have reported instances where manholes were entirely obscured by newly laid tiles and concrete, preventing essential maintenance access by CMWSSB personnel. Consequently, untreated sewage has inundated residential and commercial properties, compelling affected parties to resort to private cleaning services at considerable expense.
A medical shop proprietor on Vepery High Road, lamented, “I’ve incurred over Rs 20,000 in private cleaning costs due to recurrent sewage seepage into my premises. Despite repeated pleas to local authorities, the situation persists unabated.” Efforts to engage with GCC and CMWSSB officials have yielded little respite, with community representatives voicing frustration over the perceived neglect by local ward members. Such administrative inertia has not only engendered a public health hazard but has also disrupted normal business operations, exemplified by a clinic in the area forced to intermittently shut down due to foul odours emanating from sewage backups.
In response to escalating public outcry, a senior CMWSSB official assured that immediate inspections and remedial measures would be undertaken to alleviate the persisting sewage crisis in Choolai. As the community braces for long-term solutions to this pressing infrastructure dilemma, stakeholders remain hopeful that coordinated efforts between civic authorities and proactive engagement with affected residents will mitigate further hardships.
