The Hindu 23.01.2011
Corporation seals 4 hotels
For letting untreated sewage into stormwater drains
CRACKDOWN: Corporation officials inspect the sewage flow from one of the
hotels in Anna Nagar that was sealed on Saturday. — Photo: K.Pichumani
Four hotels in Anna Nagar were on Saturday sealed by the Chennai
Corporation for letting untreated sewage into stormwater drains.
The civic body has estimated that over 1.5 lakh illegal
sewer connections that open into stormwater drains have been the cause
of clogging of drains even when there were no rains. Around 25,000
commercial establishments let sewage into stormwater drains, said an
official of the Corporation.
Mayor M.Subramanian said the civic body would soon
identify and seal all commercial establishments with illegal sewer
connection.
Illegal sewer connections in Anna Nagar were identified
following clogging of drains on the stretch between Anna Arch and
Peripheral Hospital recently. The civic body officials had cleaned the
stormwater drains with assistance from Chennai Metrowater and had taken
out large quantities of sewage from the drains.
Stormwater drains are solely for carrying water during the rains and should remain dry when there is no rain, an official said.
The civic body has taken action against the four hotels
under the provisions of Section 44 of the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act
and Section 279 of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act 1919.
The hotels have been asked to immediately get a sewer connection from Metrowater.
Around 25,000 commercial establishments let out sewage into stormwater drains, says official