People in Samanthampettai fisher village live amid squalor, stagnant sewage water

Residents of Samanthampettai fisher village in Ward No. 11 of Nagapattinam Municipality are living amid stagnant sewage water that has turned large stretches of the locality into a breeding ground for mosquitoes while persistent foul odour continues to cause distress and raise serious health concerns.

Home to more than 1,500 families, the coastal settlement lacks proper drains, resulting in wastewater accumulating in open areas, and affecting daily life. The problem is particularly acute in Amirtha Nagar, a pocket within Samanthampettai with around 500 families, where residents say overflowing sewage has become a constant menace.

Residents pointed out that wastewater flowing from nearby Mahalaxmi Nagar drains into the area and stagnates near an open canal located between Amirtha Nagar and Mahalaxmi Nagar. The canal frequently overflows, emitting a strong stench that affects people who live, cook, and eat in close proximity.

During the rainy season, the situation worsens as sewage mixes with rainwater and enters houses giving nightmare to residents and exposing them to the risk of waterborne diseases. The stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Residents have urged the authorities to connect the open drain to a properly covered underground sewage system to prevent further contamination. They demanded the construction of a small footbridge across the drain, noting that the existing pathway is broken and poses a risk to pedestrians, especially schoolchildren who cross it daily.

S. Kanimozhi, a resident whose house is located close to the canal, said her children frequently fell ill and suffered from headaches due to the persistent smell. Fisherwomen V. Punithavathi and V. Dhanalakshmi say the unhygienic conditions have made daily life difficult.

Officials of the Nagapattinam Municipality said they would look into the issue.