For over four months, residents living along the crucial Tambaram-Velachery Main Road in Medavakkam have been forced to navigate a daily nightmare of putrid, stagnant wastewater right outside their homes. The source of this ongoing ordeal is an incomplete stormwater drain project, left in limbo for more than six years by the Highways Department, transforming this arterial road into a severe public health hazard.
A Six-Year Saga of Neglect and Dispute
The core of the problem lies in a stormwater drain construction initiative that began over half a decade ago but was abruptly halted. The work stalled in front of a gated community due to an unresolved property settlement dispute involving a neighbouring building. This prolonged incompletion has had dire consequences. With no proper outlet, untreated sewage is discharged into the existing, unfinished drain system, causing constant overflows.
"Since the construction and interlinking work remains incomplete, sewage overflows and stagnates on the road. It leads to permanent sewage stagnation in front of the apartment and sludge accumulation," explained Vidhya Jayaraman, a distressed resident of Medavakkam. The inaction has effectively turned a civic infrastructure project into a source of misery.
Unbearable Living Conditions and Health Risks
The ramifications for the local community are severe and multifaceted. The filthy water, which stagnates through both summer and monsoon seasons, emits a powerful, foul odour that makes life unbearable for those living near entrances and for pedestrians. More alarmingly, the area has become a prolific breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising the spectre of vector-borne diseases and posing serious health risks to all.
The crisis also disrupts daily life in tangible ways. Children in the locality face significant difficulties when boarding school buses and autorickshaws due to the persistent waterlogging. What was meant to be a pathway has become an obstacle course of sewage and sludge.
Blame Game and Temporary Fixes
Frustrated residents have repeatedly raised complaints through official channels like the chief minister's cell. However, their pleas often trigger a blame game between the Medavakkam Panchayat and the Highways Department, with no single authority taking definitive responsibility for a permanent solution.
As a stopgap measure, the Highways Department occasionally deploys an excavator to remove the accumulated sludge. Yet, this is merely a superficial fix. "There is no permanent solution to complete the stormwater drain construction or to stop sewage from being discharged into the drain," stated another resident, G Dhanalakshmi.
She further highlighted the administrative paralysis, noting that even after a recent CM Cell petition directed the Chengalpattu Collector to address the issue, no concrete steps were taken on the ground. When contacted for comment, Chengalpattu District Collector D Sneha acknowledged the problem, saying the issue would be looked into and assured that it would be addressed, offering a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered residents.
The situation on Tambaram-Velachery Main Road stands as a stark reminder of how bureaucratic delays and inter-departmental disputes can directly corrode the quality of life and health of citizens, demanding urgent and cohesive action.
