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

At a high-level meeting on June 26, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam directed officials to expedite construction of the UGSS and sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Anakaputhur. This was in response to the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive for effective sewage management and lake restoration. The UGSS will include 50 km of pipelines across 389 streets in Anakaputhur and 100 km across 877 streets in Pammal. Two sewage treatment plants are also being constructed.

In a shift from conventional systems, the project plans to install machine holes instead of 2,212 manholes in Pammal and 768 in Anakaputhur. Surveillance around Potheri Lake will be enhanced through CCTV integration with the police and the Integrated Command and Control Centre. All sewage transport vehicles in the Tambaram zone will be GPS-enabled and restricted to authorised facilities.