Rs 1000 crores to be spent to stop sewage flow into 3 Chennai rivers
Posted on: 22/Aug/2019 9:51:29 AM
Chennai city has got three major waterways namely Adyar River, Cooum River and the man made Buckingham canal. Important information is every day 170 million litres of untreated sewage flows into these 3 waterways. This was as per a study made by the state government.
It is now revealed that an amount of Rs 1001 crores would be spent for the first phase of the programme to plug sewage flows into the 3 waterways in Chennai.
Metro water would be playing its part in building of new sewers, treatment plants and pumping stations plus it would be improving the present infrastructure. It must be noted that on Tuesday, the government passed orders for the money to go to the metro water department.
Point is this would be as a part of Rs 2371 crores programme to improve the water bodies in the state that the government embarked on. This was after the High Court of Madras refused to set aside Rs 100 crores penalty imposed on it by the National Green Tribunal as it failed to restore the water bodies. It was later pointed out by a senior official that restoration of waterways is important and is a priority for the government.
He added that state has taken up proposal to plug sewage outfalls into Adyar, Cooum and Buckhingham canal and its drains. Sewage interception, diversion lines, modular treatment plants would be constructed using Rs 1001 crores. The collection system would be enlarged and pumping stations would be improved. Information collected is metro water would take up as many as 46 works to intercept and divert sewage outfalls to the nearest pumping station.
Metro water would also take up another 39 works to strengthen the infrastructure works in GCC limits. By the month of December in the year 2022, the programme would be finished. Pollution control board along with others like city development mission and budgetary support from state would be providing funds for the project.
Social activist, Mr. Jawaharlal Shanmugam spoke about how any positive development is a welcome move and how the state government must ensure that perceivable changes are made. It is known that based on the petition given by this social activist NGT slapped fine on the state under the polluter-pays principle. Point to be noted is the Green Tribunal had expressed unhappiness with the government status reports regarding the efforts to revamp the waterways.
According to Mr. G. Sunderrajan of poovulagin nanbargal it is clear that the health of the 4 rivers including Kosathalaiyar reflects the health of the city of Chennai. He added that each of us must take the responsibility of taking care of the waterways of Chennai city. Finally he highlighted that Chennai was the only city blessed with 4 rivers.
