Five years after its upgrade to a municipal corporation, Tambaram continues to grapple with a severe lack of basic underground drainage infrastructure, leaving residents in several of its rapidly growing localities exposed to sewage overflow, foul stench, and significant health risks.
Localities Left Behind Amid Population Boom
Areas like Selaiyur, Camp Road, Thiruneermalai, and Perungalathur have witnessed a substantial influx of new residents but remain without this fundamental civic amenity. Consequently, countless families are forced to rely on septic tanks and sewer lorries for waste management, a system that is both costly and inefficient.
Even in the few pockets like Chromepet and Pallavaram that received underground drainage networks back in 2012 when Tambaram was a municipality, neglect and poor maintenance have rendered the system dysfunctional. Frequent blockages and pipeline damage lead to regular sewage spills onto roads.
Residents Bear the Brunt: Health Hazards and High Costs
The situation turns critical during the monsoon. S Krishna Kumar of the Selaiyur Residents Welfare Association explained how recent showers exacerbated their plight. "Water entered our septic tank and filled it completely. There was leakage, which caused waterlogging mixed with sewage," he said. His family had to spend ₹6,000 to clean and repair the tank, a recurring burden for many.
In Pallavaram, along Bharathipuram Main Road, damaged pipelines cause persistent sewage overflow. V Santhanam, a senior activist from Chromepet, highlighted the daily dangers. "The drains are not desilted properly, so sewage overflows onto the road during the monsoon. Even schoolchildren walking past get splashed with leaked sewage. It also gives out a strong stench," he stated, urging the corporation to act swiftly.
Promised Projects Stalled, Official Response Awaited
Earlier this year, the corporation announced a major ₹750-crore underground drainage project aimed at benefiting areas like Chitlapakkam, Sembakkam, and Madampakkam. However, residents report that work has not yet begun on the ground.
When contacted, a senior corporation official stated that desilting work was carried out before the monsoon. The official also mentioned that a proposal to purchase Super Suction machines has been sent to the government, and a new proposal for a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Tambaram has been submitted. "Work will begin after the monsoon," the official assured.
For now, the wait continues for thousands of residents living in the shadow of a public health crisis, hoping for the promised drainage system to move from blueprints to reality.
