CHENNAI: The residents of Chitlapakkam, Sembakkam and Madambakkam in Tambaram Corporation will have to wait further for an underground sewage system as the civic body has held in abeyance the tender process due to the enforcement of the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the state.
According to the Corporation, an administrative sanction was accorded to the sewerage project for left-out areas at an estimated cost of Rs 585 crore on February 4. “Bids have since been received. However, in view of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in connection with the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, further processing of the tenders has been kept in abeyance and will be taken up after the withdrawal of the MCC,” a civic body document said.
Under the project, an underground sewer network will be created for a total length of 267 km. Moreover, a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) will be constructed with an installed capacity of 35 MLD (million litres per day) in Pazhathottam. The sewerage network and STP will prevent sewage from entering Madambakkam Lake.
At present, 49 tanker lorries have been given permission to remove sewage from household septic tanks and decant at STPs maintained by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water).
Meanwhile, officials from Tambaram Corporation and Water Resources Department had conducted an inspection around Madambakkam Lake on April 2 and found that some residents discharged wastewater into open channels.
“As of date, a total of 51 households in Chandra Bose Nagar and Thiruvalluvar Street have been issued notices under the provisions of the Public Health Act, and necessary enforcement action is being pursued,” the document added.
On the other hand, the Water Resources Department has undertaken a work to construct peripheral interceptor drains along the northern boundary to capture and divert stormwater flows into Madambakkam Lake. The measures are designed to maintain the natural drainage regime, ensure adequate hydraulic connectivity, and prevent any alterations to the existing flow pattern into the lake.