Sewage crisis in Erode: Residents of Goundappadi protest over years of stagnation, health risks

Erode, Tamil Nadu – Over 500 families living in the Goundappadi hamlet of Erode district are grappling with worsening sanitation issues caused by the absence of a proper drainage system. The residents, who have faced persistent sewage stagnation, staged a protest on Tuesday demanding immediate government intervention.

The protesters blocked the Goundappadi–Appakudal Road, alleging that stagnant water and sewage had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease, even during dry spells. Locals said repeated appeals to civic authorities had gone unanswered.

Former councillor Vijayalakshmi Vasu said, “Our neighbouring locality has recently built a sewage canal that is higher than ours, which is creating water stagnation and mosquito breeding. Many people have been hospitalised with fever. The government should act immediately because people here can’t even step out of their homes.”

Residents described how water stagnation up to half a foot deep made roads impassable during rains. “We don’t have a proper sewage discharge facility. Every time it rains, vehicles can’t move and children fall ill. We’ve been demanding a solution for years but no action has been taken,” said Manickam, a local resident.

Another protester, Velliangiri, added that the authorities only visited the site after the roadblock demonstration. “People are suffering because of stagnant sewage and the mosquito menace,” he said.

Following the protest, officials including the Gobichettipalayam Tahsildar and local police visited the site and assured residents that the issue would be addressed soon. The protesters later withdrew their agitation, hopeful that corrective measures will be implemented to restore hygiene and safety in the locality.

(With PTI Inputs)