Nauseating: Drainage water flowing into the Chinthamani channel at Samanatham near Madurai. | Photo Credit: G_Moorthy more-in The drive to Samanatham, a village located a few km off Ring Road, is pleasant. The road leading to the village is lined with trees, independent houses and industries. But, stench welcomes when one enters the village. The road is flanked by untreated sewage channels. The stream carrying the sewage is connected to the Chintamani channel located close to the city. The Kiruthumal river used to flow through these parts and beyond the Ring Road into Puliyur. It eventually reaches Sivaganaga district, says P. Ramesh, a resident. As years passed and population around the river increased, the river banks were encroached. Constant dumping of waste by residents caused the choking of the river. The corporation lined its course with concrete thus preventing groundwater percolation. Members of the Panchayat Board of the village say that since many parts of Madurai do not have proper underground drainage connection, the sewage flows right into Samanatham kanmoi (tank) through drainage channels. Chemical waste from dying units, chemical industries and welding shops discharge their waste into the drain. V. Palanisamy, a resident, says they buy water at ?10 a pot because the taste of groundwater had changed. He states that many children have fallen ill because of playing in the dirty water. They had also contracted water-borne diseases, he added. P. Chithru, another resident, says farmers have started using this water for irrigation because of lack of water sources. “Though each farmer has independent borewells, the water from the tank is flowing freely and available throughout the year. It is easier. However, it is detrimental to public health. What will happen to the people who consume this contaminated produce?” he asks. A senior member of the panchayat board says stagnant water in the ‘kanmoi’ helped in recharging groundwater. Corporation officials visited the village two years ago and asked for a map of Samanatham, promising that a sewage treatment plant would be established to provide treated drainage water for irrigation. “No one has contacted us ever since. Small villages like ours often get lost in the paperwork,” he says.

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