Sewer system in a shambles!
IT MAY sound odd but the report prepared for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission states that the city as a whole does not have sewer system. Wherever exists, it is not exclusively a sewer system.
IT MAY sound odd but the report prepared for Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission states that the city as a whole does not have sewer system. Wherever exists, it is not exclusively a sewer system.
The report forwarded to the State and Union Governments said that sewerage here is a combined waste water and storm water collection system. The collection system is neither complete nor efficient. It exists only in the central core of Allahabad city.
"Most of the existing sewers are old brick sewers which have outlived their life.
The structural condition of sewers in most of the stretches is poor. Hydraulic capacities are insufficient even for the present flows".
"All existing lines have heavy silt depositions. Sewers are severely choked due to ingress of solid waste. All lines have large variations in constructed slopes. Due to inadequacies of the existing system, as described above, most of the city's waste water ends up in surface drains which convey it to Ganga and Yamuna rivers".
Report further said that unlined drains are found choked by garbage and solid wastes like polythene, papers, wrappers etc. Waste water flowing through the unlined drains is producing foul smell in the city due to putrefaction of the organic matter and is polluting the environment.
Since the waste water remains stagnant in the drains for 24 hours, it is good place of breading for mosquitoes, flies and harmful bacteria and viruses. This may cause unhygienic condition to the extent of epidemic in the city. The condition of the existing system is also poor. During the reconnaissance survey of the city, most of the sewerage system was found choked by silt and garbage.
Ironically the finding states that solid materials lying in the sewerage lines restrict the flow. Cleaning and maintenance of sewer lines is not proper. Due to silting of the solids in the line, the carrying capacity gets drastically reduced and there develop chances of overflow during the peak flows due to reduced section and carrying capacity of the system. During the rainy season, situation in certain areas becomes serious for these get flooded.
However, the Nagar Nigam officials feel that under the JNURM the sewer system would be totally overhauled besides laying of new sewer lines in other parts of the city.