Sewage Shutdown: Madurai Seeks ₹140 Cr. to Heal the Vaigai

In a renewed effort to combat river pollution, the Madurai Corporation has submitted a ₹140 crore proposal to the Tamil Nadu state government to upgrade the city's drainage infrastructure and prevent untreated sewage from entering the Vaigai River.

The plan is based on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by Tata Consultancy Services, focusing on long-term waste management, drainage upgrades, and sewage flow control. Despite the presence of a sewage treatment plant, untreated effluents continue to reach the river, particularly through the Panthalkudi canal at Goripalayam, identified as a major waste conduit. Residents and environmental activists have reported at least 36 inlets discharging waste directly into the Vaigai, and have urged immediate action and faster implementation of the Vaigai Riverfront Development Project.

Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan stated that while funding approval is pending, interim clean-up operations and monitoring activities are already underway. With the Vaigai flowing for 12 km through Madurai, concerns over the river’s deteriorating condition have intensified public demand for timely and effective solutions to restore its ecological health.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.