‘Half city sewage doesn’t reach plants’

Madurai: Opposition as well as ruling party councillors on Friday raised concerns about the efficiency of sewage treatment plants in Madurai city, saying only about 40% to 50% of sewage generated reached the two plants as there were severe leaks in the underground drainage (UGD) system. Speaking at the council meeting convened by mayor Indrani Ponvasanth, AIADMK councillors said that only about 30 MLD of sewage is reaching STPs despite its combined capacity of 170 MLD.
Madurai’s primary STP, Avaniyapuram, can treat 125 MLD a day and serves the south zone while Sakkimangalam STP, with a daily capacity of 45 MLD, serves north zone.
“Around 100 MLD of sewage is generated daily but more than half of it is leaking and not properly directed to the pumping stations,” said M Solai Raja, leader of the opposition in the council. Madurai north zonal chairperson Saravana Bhuvaneshwari said many pumping stations were hampered by defunct or under-capacity motors. “The corporation must survey affected pumping stations and replace inefficient motors,” she said.
Several councillors complained about the delay in completing UGD work in remaining areas of the corporation. Chief engineer Rooban Ponniah said the corporation is currently assessing all pumping stations and UGD networks in the core area with the help of TCS, which has been hired as consultant.
Both he and corporation commissioner Dinesh Kumar questioned claims that over 50% of sewage was leaking. Ponniah said many pumping mains are broken and leaking in core areas.
“Once the study is completed, an estimate will be prepared and rectification works will commence,” he assured. Regarding the delayed UGD works, he said tenders have been called and will be opened by the end of July.
Councillors also raised concerns about defunct LED lights in extension areas and stray cattle menace. There was high drama when officials walked out after ward 62 councillor Jeya Chandran used unparliamentary language against the commissioner over removal of an illegal UGD connection in ward 62. Chandran claimed to have spent around `7 lakh to lay the UGD line due to drainage issues. The commissioner said that the pipelines were removed as they were laid without informing the corporation.
Following Chandran’s harsh words, health, revenue and engineering officials walked out for 10 minutes, abstaining from answering further questions. They returned after requests from the commissioner and other councillors.
Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth said that action would be taken against Chandran after inquiry.
In a show of solidarity against drugs and alcohol and condemning the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, AIADMK councillors attended the meeting in black shirts. Ward 86 BJP councillor T Booma walked out at the start of the meeting to protest the Kallakurichi incident.