Sewage lifting station to come up in Khajamalai in Tiruchi

Tiruchi Corporation is set to commence work on installing a sewage lifting station at Khajamalai to address frequent blockages in the underground drainage network in the area.

Khajamalai witnesses frequent blocks in the pumping lines of the UGD network, leading to bursts. When the pipes burst, a portion of the road is damaged and sewage overflows, raising a stink. Similarly, during rainfall, residences get filled with sewage, posing a health hazard to residents. Although several repair works were undertaken, the problem keeps resurfacing.

A technical study was conducted in December by a private consultant to identify faults in the UGD network and a sewer construction defect was found on Khajamalai Main Road. The pipelines, which are more than 20 years old, are not uniformly laid at the same level, resulting in irregular flow and blockages. They used reinforced cement concrete pipelines measuring 250 mm in diameter, and the manhole chambers were installed about 20 feet below ground level. Officials said silt buildup in the pipelines is one of the reasons for the recurring issue.

As a permanent solution, the civic body has planned to install a new sewage lifting station in Khajamalai to rectify the design flaws in the sewer network. The lifting station would push the sewage towards the decanting station near the Anna Stadium complex and then to the sewage treatment plant in Panjapur.

“The work on installing a lifting station and pipeline laying work in the left out streets in the area are covered under the ongoing Phase IV of the UGD project. Preliminary work on the lifting station will begin in a few days,” said a senior Corporation official.

Additionally, the UGD manholes on the stretch will be enlarged to accommodate specialised silt-removal vehicles. Bulk sewage generators such as hotels, hostels, and hospitals in the area have been instructed to set up diaphragm chambers to prevent solid waste from being discharged into the sewers.