Trichy corpn forms panel to address water, sanitation issues

Trichy: Trichy corporation has formed a non-statutory committee comprising elected representatives, senior officials, and experts to tackle key challenges in water, sanitation, and hygiene. This initiative follows the city's efforts to expand the underground drainage (UGD) network to prevent illegal sewage disposal. The committee will review issues, propose solutions, and educate residents on sanitary and hygienic practices.
At present, 33% of Trichy is covered by the UGD network, which is expected to reach 75% upon the completion of phases II and III. However, some properties still discharge sewage into stormwater drains, causing blockages and flooding during the monsoon. A 2023 study by the corporation found that around 1,000 properties in 28 wards were contributing to this problem. In many cases, only septic tank sewage is connected to the UGD system, leaving kitchen wastewater to flow into open drains.
"The committee will propose solutions to real-time challenges, including covering open stormwater drains and encouraging residents to connect to the UGD for proper wastewater disposal," mayor Mu Anbalagan told TOI. One of the committee's key tasks will be incorporating climate-resilient technologies into the city's water and sanitation systems.
The committee will also discuss ways to prevent water loss during transmission and promote the reuse of treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs). The mayor will chair the committee, which includes executive engineer K S Balasubramanian and assistant engineer V Muthulakshmi. Other members are social worker and Padma Shri awardee M Subburaman, and NGO workers V Latha and S Jayanthi.
"We have suggested using high-pressure water cleaners in public toilets to maintain hygiene with minimal water usage. The need for more urinals and better maintenance of public toilets will also be a regular topic of discussion," said Subburaman.
The committee's work is part of the Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Programme (TNUFIP), funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which mandates the implementation of innovative water, sewage, and hygiene projects.
Panel to overcome challenges in water, sanitation, hygiene
UGD coverage: 33%
Proposed UGD coverage: 75%
To be commissioned: phase II, III, and IV
TOILETS:
Community toilets: 368
Public toilets: 39
Total toilets: 407
DRINKING WATER:
Total water heads: 11
Overhead water tanks: 147
Connections: 1.2 lakh
Daily requirement: 155 MLD
Roles of hygiene committee
Introduce climate change resilient technologies
Increase UGD connections
Eliminate drinking water loss in transmission
Better upkeep of public toilets
Prevent pollution in open drains