Every day battle against stench

In Ponnusamy Nagar and Aishwarya Nagar, the septic tank and sewage waste is being discharged into the age-old Vadavalli channel. Especially during rainy season, when it pours, the septic tanks most often overflow, leading to unbearable stench.

The foul smelling water that has been overflowing out of the channel after the recent incessant rains is making life miserable for residents in and around the area.

Vadivu, who resides in a slum like colony behind the area, rues that she battles with mosquitoes as they breed out of the dirty water and bite her infant all through the night.

Jayalakshmi, a home maker of Ponnusamy Nagar, states that she has never been able to keep the windows of the kitchen open while cooking. “Well before evening, we are forced to close the windows out of the fear of mosquitoes. The foul smell is nauseating. Inhaling the smell all the time, senior citizens at home fall sick often,” she lamented.

Yet another resident of the area, N.K. Krishnamoorthy, said, “It appears that an apartment in the area has been discharging the septic tank waste into the channel close by. Though they are supposed to use lorries to clean up the septic and sewage waste, and it costs almost Rs 6,000 each time, they choose the cheaper alternative of draining it into the channels illegally.

If they do not want to spend on transporting by way of lorries, they should set up sewage treatment plants.”

Warning the apartments that illegally discharge sewage and septic tank waste, mayor P Rajkumar said the corporation will initiate legal action if the allegations made by the residents are found to be true.