With many narrow lanes and bylanes along Big Bazaar Street continuing to pose challenges in the execution of the underground drainage (UGD) scheme, Tiruchi Corporation has decided to strengthen the old underground drainage system.
The civic body, which is all set to complete the construction of Phase-II and Phase-III of the UGD project in different parts of the city, had included many areas situated along both sides of Big Bazaar Street in the scheme. While it did not encounter challenges in areas such as Cantonment, Thillai Nagar, Woraiyur, Annamalai Nagar and other systematically developed areas in implementing the scheme, it faced problems in laying underground pipe lines and construction of chambers in narrow streets, where hundreds of houses, retail and wholesale commercial establishments are located. Most of them were part of the erstwhile Tiruchi Municipality. They were covered under the UGD network when the erstwhile civic body built it about five decades ago. Since the existing system faced strain at various points due to excessive pressure and age factors, the Corporation included several areas along Big Bazaar Street to rebuild the underground sewer system.
While the Corporation has completed the UGD works in broad commercial areas, it could not complete the works in many narrow lanes due to lack of space. Areas such Peria Kammala Street, Chinnachetti Street, Big Sourashtra Street, Mannar Pillai Street, Rani Street, Kallukarai Street, Malayakara Street, Nadu Gujili Street, Dakkar Sandhu, Chinna Sourashtra Street, Allimal Street and Laskar Street are narrow. Several of them are lanes and bylanes. They were designed only for accommodating two-wheelers. Except for engaging labourers, machines such as earthmovers could not be operated in most areas, thereby forcing the contractors to skip the UGD works on narrow streets, lanes and bylanes.
According to sources, the authorities have given instructions to strengthen the old UGD system in areas where the workers found it difficult to carry out the UGD works.
“The nature of the lanes and bylanes does not allow the UGD works. Works could not be carried out except on broad lanes and streets. There are instances of disrupting the old sewage system. We have no other option but to strengthen the old system. The old system has been strengthened by carrying out repair and maintenance works in many bylanes and lanes in my ward,” said K. Sankar, Councillor, Ward 20.
When contacted M. Anbazhagan, Mayor, told The Hindu that the new UGD system could not be implemented in some of the thickly populated lanes and bylanes. The old UGD system had been strengthened in some of the areas. Taking into account representations of the people and the public representations, the old system would be strengthened in a few more areas.
