Residents block road near Tiruvannamalai Collectorate to protest sewage seepage

Residents of Kilnathur, which falls under Tiruvannamalai Corporation, blocked Vettavalam Main Road near the District Collectorate on Thursday to protest the seepage of sewage into their houses over the past few days.

Residents said that areas like Kilnathur village and Thavasi Kulam come under the 19th ward of the Corporation after the village was merged with the civic body this year.

“Sewage from the damaged drain entered our houses a few days ago. Women, children and senior citizens were badly affected due to the stagnation,” said K. Pavithra, a resident.

Residents said that the seepage of sewage water has also inundated a portion of the stretch, posing a public health risk to motorists and pedestrians. During night, two-wheelers skid on the stagnated stretch.

Residents said that the continuous stagnation of sewage on the stretch and houses has resulted in an increase in mosquito breeding in the area. With examinations underway, school students were unable to focus on their studies due to the mosquito menace.

At present, Tiruvannamalai Corporation comprises 39 wards with around 1.6 lakh population. Areas around the Arunachaleeswara temple and six surrounding farming villages are part of the civic body. The existing storm water drain, which is around three ft wide and four ft in depth, runs from the Periyar statue near the old bus terminus to the Edapalayam irrigation tank, around two km in distance.

Corporation officials said that the tank, which is maintained by DRDA, gets excess rainwater discharged into the stormwater drain during monsoon. The drain is also connected to small drains within Tiruvannamalai town to collect excess rainwater.

As the existing culvert, which connects the drain to the lake, became clogged, sewage in the drain seeped into houses and onto the road a few days ago, forcing residents to stage a protest.

Based on an alert, along with Tiruvannamalai East police, Corporation and State Highways officials pacified the agitated residents, who dispersed peacefully after assurance from officials that action would be taken to prevent the seepage of sewage. Traffic on Tiruvannamalai-Villupuram route was affected for over an hour before police restored vehicular movement on the stretch.