BJP candidate inspects Vaigai, assures steps to prevent sewage discharge

Madurai: BJP candidate for Madurai South, Raama Sreenivasan, visited Alwarpuram area of the Vaigai river on Saturday, where Lord Kallazhghar descends during the Chithirai festival. He inspected locations where sewage is being discharged, and criticised the DMK govt for allowing such a sacred spot to be filled with sewage."The stench caused by the waste that comes in makes it difficult to even stand near the water," he said, adding that sewage treatment plants around the city are in need of serious maintenance.Every year, lakhs of devotees gather at this spot to see Lord Kallazhgar enter the river. "At least the spots where the crowds gather should have been cleaned, but that has not been done," he said.Sreenivasan promised to rectify the issue of sewage discharge into the Vaigai. "I have taken this up as a very urgent issue. The spot where Kallazghar enters the river will be designated as a clean, litter-free zone, especially on account of its spiritual significance," he said. Additionally, he assured that he would speak with the central govt's jal shakti department to take swift action to clean the Vaigai river.M Rajan, founder of the Vaigai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam, said that immediate action is needed to clean the Vaigai river, but the sewage treatment plants do not have the capacity to do so. "Every day, 10 MLD (million litres per day) of water from the Panthalgudi channel flows into the Vaigai. The current treatment plant only treats two MLD," he said.A PWD official said that sewage in the Vaigai will be cleared in the next few days, before the Chithirai festival begins.A Madurai corporation official added that tenders have already been filed for the maintenance and capacity increase of many STPs to properly treat sewage water entering the Vaigai.