TN Races to Finish Anakaputhur Sewerage Project by August

The Tamil Nadu government has set an August deadline for completing the long-pending underground sewerage system (UGSS) project in Anakaputhur, Chennai, amid growing environmental concerns over untreated sewage entering the ecologically sensitive Potheri Lake in Pallavaram.

At a high-level meeting on June 26, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam instructed officials to accelerate the construction of the UGSS and associated sewage treatment plants (STPs), following directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) aimed at improving sewage management and restoring the lake ecosystem.

The UGSS will cover 50 km of pipelines across 389 streets in Anakaputhur and 100 km across 877 streets in Pammal. Two STPs are also under construction to support the network.

In a shift from traditional infrastructure, the project will replace conventional manholes with machine holes—2,212 in Pammal and 768 in Anakaputhur—enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

To protect Potheri Lake, surveillance will be strengthened through CCTV monitoring integrated with local police and the Integrated Command and Control Centre. Additionally, all sewage transport vehicles in the Tambaram zone will be equipped with GPS tracking and restricted to authorised disposal facilities.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.