Much-awaited drainage scheme works take off

The much-awaited works to lay sewage lines for the Rs.377-crore underground drainage scheme took off in the city on Monday after a delay of 10 years.The Corporation also made it clear that the public would have to brace for some inconvenience as roads would have to be dug to lay the lines. But, the best of efforts would be made to reduce the inconvenience.

Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy launched the works to lay the pipes and construct sewage chambers in the presence of Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik and councillors and officials of the civic body.The Commissioner said that the works begun on Monday were for six of the eight zones for which the sewers scheme was being implemented. The cost of these works was estimated at Rs.191 crore.

In the phase just begun, the contractor would lay 510 km of main lines, out of the total 635 km under the scheme. Another 680 km of lines for house connections (from the main lines) would also be laid. This phase would cover 53 out of the total 72 wards in the city.“Out of the total 30 months for the project implementation, two have already elapsed. The aim is to complete the project within the time-frame,” Mr. Mishra said.

“The scheme is important from the point of view of hygiene as people in many areas are connecting their toilet lines to the storm water drains,” he said.

Appeal

The Commissioner requested the public to show some patience during the implementation period.“This is a kind of project that will cause inconvenience, but will provide a permanent solution to the present problems in sewage disposal,” he said.

The Corporation would have a sub-plan to minimise inconvenience to the people. “We will involve residents’ welfare associations, councillors and the contractor in every area covered under the scheme to devise ways to avoid problems. They can decide on which area should be taken up first so that vehicle and pedestrian movement is not affected,” Mr. Mishra said. Discussions would be held with the traffic police also on digging roads without impeding traffic flow.

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