Urban News

The Hindu 28.11.2009

Sewer gratings to be made must for multi-storeyed buildings

K. Lakshmi

CHENNAI: Chennai Metrowater is planning to make it mandatory for all multi-storeyed and special buildings to install sewer gratings, as a measure to prevent sewer blocks.

The gratings would filter the solid waste let out from the buildings.

Metrowater officials said about 320 multi-storeyed buildings were asked to install such iron gratings to prevent solid waste from entering the sewer mains under a pilot project about seven months ago.

Two large complexes were identified in each of the 160 depots of the water agency for the project.

Following a 20 per cent reduction in the complaints about sewer blocks after the project was launched, it has been decided to make the gratings mandatory in all other buildings.

The Metrowater depot engineers would meet representatives of large buildings in their limits regarding the project, an official said. Special buildings, which have three floors, have been included in the project. The process to identify such buildings is under way.

Metrowater also proposes to purchase three sewage suction machines to suck in silt and small particles from the sewer pipeline.

Each machine would cost Rs.25 lakh.

The water agency also plans to carry out periodical flushing of the sewer network to bring down incidence of sewer blocks or overflow, the official said.

The Hindu 27.11.2009

“Building rules are flouted”

Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL: The Nagercoil chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH) here has urged the Government to replace the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Building Act 1920 with Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act 1972, in order to demolish illegal constructions with in the Municipal limit.

The provision of approaching the court to condone the violation should be dropped on public interest, said the convener R.S.Lal Mohan.

He said that the roads of the State were getting narrow due to illegal buildings on both sides of the road. The Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Building Act 1920 allowed the violators of the building rules of the Municipality to approach the court and condone the violation by paying Rs.250 to Rs.500 as penalty. After paying the penalty, they can get electricity and water connections.

This was the reason for mushrooming of illegal buildings along the road sides. According to the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act 1972 section II, no permission should be given if the boundary of the house was less than 1.3 meter from the road.

But this rule was completely flouted and houses were built even without leaving one feet from the road. Such constructions cause traffic problems and accidents.

Hence it was high time that the Municipal Act 1920 should be replaced, said Mr. Lal Mohan.