Residents complain of sewage dumping in waterways

Metrowater has instructed officials to take action against private lorry operators polluting the environment by indulging in the practice

City waterways and the open stormwater drains along service lanes of arterial roads continue to be easy locations for private lorries to dispose of untreated sewage collected from neighbouring areas. Residents of various areas complained that lorries that collect sewage from areas that are yet to be provided with underground drainage network find it convenient to dump it to avoid charges to be paid at the Metrowater facilities. P. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sholinganallur, said, “The stretch of south Buckingham Canal near the Iskcon temple service road is vulnerable to such pollution. I often see private lorries draining raw sewage and polluting the waterway during the early morning hours. I have also raised a complaint with the Greater Chennai Corporation and the complaint has been forwarded to the Semmencheri police station to take action against the operators.”