Why is sewage still being let in river despite funds sanction'

MADURAI: Annoyed by Periyakulam Commissioner's claim that government had sanctioned Rs 10.64 crore in 2009 for implementating an Underground sewerage scheme and not a drop of waste water was being let into Varaganathi (river), Madras High Court bench today sought to know why sewage was still being let out if the scheme had been implemented.

Justices S K Kaul and S Tamilvanan asked him why nothing had been done since 2009,despite sanction of funds. They wondered if that money too had gone down the drain.

The Judges directed the Commissioner to submit a report on utilisation of the funds and proposed utilisation of more than Rs 26crore to ensure that the river was not polluted.

The Judges were disposing a PIL by one S Pandi against construction of a sewage which directly flows into the Varaha nathi, which he said, causes health hazard to the People.

The commissioner said Rs 10.6 crore was sanctioned under Urban infrastructure Development Scheme for small and Medium towns and not a drop of water was being let into the river.