Children risk daily walk along open drain in Akkaraippettai fishing hamlet

In Akkaraippettai fishing hamlet, barely a few kilometres from Nagapattinam town, schoolchildren navigate a hazardous stretch every day — a damaged, incomplete rainwater drain choked with sewage, waste, and stagnant water that has remained unattended for nearly a decade.

The drain, running between Manonmaniam Koil Road on the Thideer Kuppam side and the Akkaraippettai community hall on the other, has failed to serve its basic purpose. Instead of draining rainwater, it has turned into a foul-smelling breeding ground for mosquitoes and pose a serious health risk for residents.

“This water has been stagnating for at least three weeks now. There is no proper drainage for it,” said S. Backyalakshmi, a fisherwoman, pointing to the dark, sludge-filled stretch. “Waste keeps getting dumped here, and no one clears it properly.”

S. Senthamizh Selvi, another resident, said repeated petitions to the panchayat and officials had yielded only cosmetic action. “Whenever we complain, workers come and do some shallow cleaning because the waste has piled up so much. But the water remains on the road,” she said.

Thideer Kuppam, home to nearly 3,000 people, depends heavily on this pathway. Schoolchildren from the area use it as the shortest route to the Akkaraippettai main road; alternative routes require a detour of at least half a kilometre to one kilometre. During monsoon, residents say, cases of fever spike because of stagnant drain water.

The problem is aggravated by nearby commercial activity, including an ice plant, while rainwater during the wet season has no outlet at all.

Residents have demanded immediate repair of the drain and proper desilting to ensure smooth flow of rainwater without affecting homes and public roads.

Official sources in the Rural Development Department said the work had stalled due to lack of funds. “The required allocation has not yet been received. The drain will be completed as soon as funds are sanctioned,” an official said.