In the pipeline

Seven years since the government merged 42 local bodies adjoining the city with Chennai Corporation, over half of them lack sewerage connection and Metro water supply.
CMWSSB has spent nearly  `350 crore on Metro water scheme, and `575 crore in these added areas under sewerage scheme till March 31, 2018   Martin Louis
CMWSSB has spent nearly `350 crore on Metro water scheme, and `575 crore in these added areas under sewerage scheme till March 31, 2018  Martin Louis

CHENNAI: Seven years since the government merged 42 local bodies adjoining the city with Chennai Corporation, over half of them lack sewerage connection and Metro water supply. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has spent nearly `350 crore on Metro water scheme, and `575 crore in these added areas under the sewerage scheme till March 31, 2018.

However, of these 42 added areas only six have been provided with sewerage connection and 12 have Metro water supply. The remaining areas of Chennai city will continue to suffer this monsoon and the months to follow.According to CMWSSB data, of these 42 added areas, sewerage work has been completed only in six added areas, while 13 areas are witnessing progress and the scheme in as many as 23 areas is still under various levels of implementation.

Residents complain that sewerage connection to houses have not been provided even in areas where the officials claimed to have completed the work. “Of the total 197 streets at Manapakkam, pipelines have only been laid in 120 streets. The workmen say that the connection will be given only after all lines are laid. This will take at least nine months as the current contract has been terminated and monsoon is approaching,” said K Prabhu, a resident of Manapakkam. The plight is alike in several other areas where work is told to have been completed, residents allege.

Similarly, the Metro water scheme has been completed in 12 areas, and is under progress in 24 areas. However, six areas still await light of the day.As per the scheduled deadline, most of the work was scheduled to be completed by 2015. The contractors, who obtained an extension, were to complete it by 2016. The delay, sources say, is being caused due to cancellation of tender, land acquisition issues, shortage of funds and non-coordination between departments. For instance, in areas like Ramapuram and Mogappair, the contractors have turned unresponsive. Following this, the authorities have to cancel the tender and call for a new one with current costs. The process before awarding a new contract takes at least nine months to complete. An official from Metrowater told CE that pipelines are being laid in most of the areas. “Work in areas, which is under progress, will  be completed by March 2019 and the rest will be done by 2020.”

Residents rue that the Metro water supply, too, has been erratic. Moreover, in areas like Alandur, Ambattur and Porur, where the Metro connection was provided quite early, glitches like leaks have not been rectified. Contamination too is one of the major woes.At Ambattur, underground sewerage project began in 2004 at an estimated cost of `39.6 crore and was later escalated to `70 crore in 2012. Even in 2018, the project is pending. Only, newly laid roads have been dug.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com