Madurai: Sewage has been overflowing from several manholes on streets surrounding the Perumal temple in Tallakulam, reaching the temple grounds and making it difficult for devotees to enter the temple or nearby shops.
Residents Voice Concerns
Residents of Ward 31, located behind the temple, reported that sewage has been continuously overflowing from manholes in the area, with water covering the entire road. Vijayalakshmi from Mookkapillai Street stated that this occurs every alternate day. "Even when the water is pumped out from the manholes, the problem crops up again in a few days," she said. Although workers arrive to drain the manholes and remove the flooded water, residents are calling for a permanent solution.
Venugopal, a resident, highlighted the severity of the situation. "The flooding and smell are so bad, it is very difficult to use the road to go to the temple," he said. He pointed out that Mudaliar E Street and Asari Street experience extremely severe sewage stagnation, which has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. "Mosquitoes make it impossible to step out of the house in the evening. We lock our doors and windows to prevent them from entering, but with little success," he added. The water flows from the streets onto the Perumal temple grounds, and shopkeepers nearby noted that water remains stagnant for hours before drying up.
Corporation's Response
An official from the city corporation stated that a super sucker machine will be deployed in the area to drain overflowing sewage, and steps will be taken to prevent manholes from overflowing. "We are also stepping up fogging drives to prevent mosquitoes from becoming a large menace in the area," the official added.
