Residents block road in Sholinghur against discharge of sewage

Sholinghur residents block road against sewage discharge into irrigation channels, demand alternative solution from civic body.

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Sholinghur town residents, including farmers, staged a blockade on the Sholinghur-Paravathur Main Road on Monday against the discharge of sewage into irrigation channels near the town by the civic body.

Sholinghur municipality has 33 wards with around 80,000 persons within its limits. The storm water drain was built years ago when it was a town panchayat. The narrow drains were unable to discharge excess rainwater during monsoon, resulting in inundation of residential areas within the civic body limits. The municipality has started to widen the drain to increase its water carrying capacity during rains.

“We are not against widening of drains. But, diverting sewage from the drain to irrigation water channels will not only affect farming but also contaminate groundwater,” said K. Sumathi, a resident.

Around 11 a.m on Monday, residents blocked the road, demanding stoppage of sewage into irrigation channels near the town. Based on alert, the police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and dispersed agitated residents with assurances.

“We have promised residents that discharge of sewage into water channels will be stopped. An alternative arrangement will be made to proceed with the widening work,” B. Kanniyappan, Sholinghur Municipal Commissioner, told The Hindu. 

Municipal officials said that widening of the storm water drain is being done in ward 16 that comprises thickly populated areas like Mottur, Naraikulamedu and West Bazaar.