HC seeks reply on plea to activate sewage plant to protect Vaigai

Madurai: Madras high court on Thursday sought a response from Madurai corporation on a plea seeking a direction to make a sewage treatment plant (STP) situated near Kansapuram Main Road in Madurai city functional to prevent the discharge of untreated waste into the Vaigai river.A division bench of justice G R Swaminathan and justice B Pugalendhi was hearing a public interest litigation filed by M Nagarajan, founder of the Vaigai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam.The petitioner stated that the STP, with a capacity of 2 MLD (million litres per day), was set up in 2021 to treat sewage water from areas such as Sellur, Goripalayam, Bibikulam, Panthalkudi, and Alwarpuram.Meanwhile, in order to ease congestion at Goripalayam junction, the construction of a flyover was initiated in Oct 2023. Since the flyover construction work is underway, the STP was dismantled by the authorities. Due to this, untreated sewage water is being directly discharged into the Vaigai river, thereby polluting it.He stated that it is necessary for the authorities to ensure that the STP is fully functional for the treatment of sewage before it reaches the Vaigai. He submitted a representation to the authorities in this regard, since the same was not considered, Nagarajan moved court.