30% Sewer Lines Clogged By Sanitary Pads, Clothes

Nagpur: Sanitary napkins, pads, and old clothes are increasingly being identified as major causes of sewer blockages in Nagpur, according to officials from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). An NMC official involved in sewer cleaning operations said that 30% of complaints pertaining to choked sewerage lines stem from improper disposal of these items. Upscale areas of the city, such as Laxmi Nagar and Dharampeth, are particularly affected. Though the majority of complaints relate to old and damaged sewerage networks, the official clarified.

The NMC reassigned the responsibility for handling blocked sewers to solid waste management department starting October 5. Previously, the public health engineering department dealt with such complaints. The change aims to improve efficiency in tackling the city's growing choked sewer issues.

Gayatri Bhattacharya, a resident of Dixit Nagar, recounted the ordeal faced by at least 10 row houses in her area due to overflowing sewage water. The NMC carried out multiple de-choking drives, but the problem persists, largely due to residents disposing of sanitary napkins and other non-biodegradable materials into the sewer lines, causing blockages. She stressed the need for mass education on how to dispose of sanitary waste.

According to NMC officials, this is just "the tip of the iceberg". Many complaints are linked to the unscientific disposal of waste in sewer systems. Over the past 10 days, the NMC registered 49 complaints of sewer line blockage, 25 reports of overflowing sewage chambers, and six instances of foul odours. A majority of these complaints came from localities like Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Dixit Nagar, etc.

In Laxmi Nagar, nine cases of sewer line blockages and six complaints of overflowing chambers were recorded. The Dharampeth zone followed with eight choked sewer line complaints and six about overflowing chambers. Both zones have consistently reported a high volume of sewage-related issues, suggesting a significant problem with drainage infrastructure.

In contrast, areas like Satranjipura and Lakadganj have reported far fewer issues. Satranjipura logged just one case of sewer line blockage, and Lakadganj saw two. Neither of these zones registered complaints of overflowing chambers, indicating relatively better maintenance in these regions.

The reassignment of duties to the solid waste management department has sparked concerns about the department's ability to handle the added responsibility, given its ongoing struggles with managing the city's waste. NMC officials have urged residents to dispose of sanitary waste more responsibly to help prevent further sewer blockages.