Overflowing sewage poses a health hazard in Ramanathapuram

Residents in Ramanathapuram frustrated by recurring sewage overflow issue, impacting public health and hygiene, demand permanent solution.

Residents of Ramanathapuram are exasperated over the recurrent problem of overflowing of sewage from underground drainage (UGD) system, reported from many places across the town. It affects public hygiene and health, they say.

Sewage overflows on to the road due to various factors - the pipes that carry sewage are smaller, clogged pipes, dysfunctional sewage treatment plant.  L. Agnald, a resident of Akil Kidangu Street, said sewage was overflowing in their area for more than two weeks now.  “The stench from the stagnant sewage on road is unbearable. We have no other recourse but to close the doors all the time to escape the foul smell,” he said.  

Following complaints, conservancy workers removed the clog in the UGD, but within a day, the problem surfaced, he said.  “As this is Christmas season, we go on carol rounds to visit people at their houses to wish the seasonal greetings. But, due to the unhygienic conditions prevailing in our area, we have asked for postponing it by a week,” Ms. Agnald said. 

Another resident, M. Santhakumar of Kottaimedu Street, living with his family of 12 for over two years in that area, said they had been facing the problem they shifted house ever since they shifted to Kottaimedu.  “I run a grocery shop nearby. Due to the stagnation of sewage, people hesitate to visit my shop,” he said.  

“ My children often fall sick due to this unhygienic conditions. I gave petitions to the authorities concerned, including the MLA, but they are of no avail. We need a permanent solution to this persistent issue,” he said.  

P. Selvaraj, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) functioanary, said about six months ago, they staged a protest deamnding a solution to the underground drainage overflow issue.  “It is learnt that the underground pipes are too small to carry the huge volume of sewage, the reason why they get burst quite often, spilling the sewage onto the road,” he said.