Sewage contamination in Mandaveli: no solution in sight

New pipelines fail to stop the leak

Patience is wearing thin for the residents of Mandaveli as the Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) is yet to find a solution to the contamination in drinking water supply. About 400 households in Raja Street, Velayudha Raja Street, Kandhasamy Street, T.P. Scheme Road and Raja Street Extension are still struggling without clean drinking water.

In the first week of May, Metrowater claimed to have identified the source of contamination at Appavu Gramani Third Cross Street and started work to lay new pipelines. A month later, the sewage leak has still not stopped.

“Last week, sewage gushed out of a sump in one of the houses in Raja Street. Metrowater officials are still trying to locate the source of the contamination. Until then, we can only wait in hope,” says S. Aparna, a resident of T.P. Scheme Road.

The residents suspect that the contamination could be happening from R.K. Nagar area. “The situation remains the same on the eastern side of R.K. Mutt Road and Raja Street. Metrowater is now isolating the pipelines to Velayutha Raja Street, School View Road and T.P. Scheme Road. We continue to be hopeful,” says R. Subramaniam, president of Poonga View Residents Welfare Association.

When another resident of Raja Street enquired with a CMWSSB official whether the sewage mixing point had been identified, the official told her that the possibility points had been terminated and they were continuously monitoring the situation. “It seems like they don’t have a clear plan,” the resident says.

The residents continue to depend on private tanker suppliers and cans for their drinking water supply. “We have been keeping the valves to the sumps closed and don’t know when clean water will be supplied. Water tankers are expensive and they take several days to supply after booking is done, due to the water crisis. This has been a harrowing summer for Mandaveli residents,” she adds.

Girija, a resident of School View Road complains that Metrowater officials have still not inspected the pipelines in her street despite several requests. “We are going through the same problem and are shelling out ₹ 2,000 to ₹ 3,000 to clean the sumps in addition to the money we pay to buy water. I have been asking the AE to inspect the pipelines in this street and R.K. Mutt Road but to no avail,” she says.

Attempts to reach Metrowater officials went in vain.

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