A stubborn problem in the city of Lambert

On the evening of 17 March, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) removed the sewage from the intersection of First Main Road and First Cross Street in Lambert Nagar, Virugambakkam.

The next morning, with sewage flowing again, the exercise was repeated.

Freddie R., President of the Lambert Municipal Residents Welfare Association.

The intersection of Lambert City has been affected by this issue since the November 2020 rains. With rain in January, it worsened, adds Jaipalan.

Association residents and officials say the CMWSSB will not make quick-fixes. “CMWSSB workers clean the overflow water, but the problem comes with a problem. Jayapalan says that it needs to be identified and cleaned.

Lambert Nagar sewage pipes are connected to CMWSSB’s two sewage pumping stations – Nesapakkam and Koyambedu.

Association officials suspect that the problem at the pumping stations could lead to overflow of sewage.

Commander PV Francis (retd), the joint secretary of the association, says, “Providing a permanent solution may cause the busy Arcot Road and Wembuli Amman Kovil to be cut off and, therefore, resort to the closure of the CMSWBB arrangements.”

The association says that some neighboring areas – Munuswamy Salai in Kekanagar, Loganathan Street in Logunambakkam and Vembuli Amman Kovil Street – are also plagued by the issue, and may contribute to overflow in Lambert Nagar

He said, ‘It does not help us even when sewage is overflowed. Within a few hours, we have to call CMWSSB again. Because, static sewage flows to another area in the city of Lambert.

Similarly, when sewage is pumped into our neighboring areas, sewage stabilizes in Lambert City and other areas. Therefore, we badly need a permanent solution that benefits the residents of our neighboring colonies.

The recent problem also highlighted the need to replace sewage pipes with new ones.

“The existing sewage pipes were laid in the early 1990s, when the colony was newly built. There were about 70 independent houses then. With the arrival of many apartments over the years, the population has increased manifold. And the existing sewage pipes take the current load Are unable to, “Francis says. In some homes, sewage entered the wardrobe in the washroom, causing residents to move to the top floors and some relocate to their relatives’ locations.

Due to this issue, senior citizens have to face a lot of inconvenience.

“In January, the problem was terrible and I moved to my daughter’s house in Anna Nagar,” senior citizen S.W.

Anjana Vyas. Those who have older parents at home say that they are unable to sit on the balcony and enjoy their leisure hours, due to the stench. Another senior citizen, Suresh Kumar. B says he is unable to go for his morning walk

The association also stated that their groundwater has been contaminated and there is evidence of wells in some houses. “Sewage has entered my well. Once the permanent solution to the problem is found, I will clean the well, an additional expense. Another evidence for groundwater pollution is a waterfall in our area: it is contaminated with sewage, ”says Jayapalan.

Residents keep complaining about this in the online complaint redressal cell of CMWSSB.

“However, the CMWSSB continues to close the complaint saying that it has been run over after pumping static sewage from the intersection. But within a few hours, the stool starts flowing again and we again file a new complaint.

The association also wants the Greater Chennai Corporation to take note of the issue as the CMWSSB is letting the sewage out of the stagnant sewage into the stormwater runoff.

In this regard, a CMWSSB official agrees that the department has received complaints from Lambert Municipal residents.

“The problem is a suppression. We are participating in it. This will be resolved soon, ”the official says.