The problem has been reported in old localities including Yagappa Nagar, Ellis Nagar, Tahsildar Nagar and Senthilnathan Street.
Residents said the heightened manholes have resulted in raw sewage backing up through household toilets and flooding homes during peak usage, making some properties difficult to live in or sell. As road levels rose, contractors also raised manholes by adding brickwork over existing chambers.
T Nagarajan, a resident of Bharathiyar Street in Tahsildar Nagar, said his house, built in 1975, was originally three feet above the road level. The problem has been reported in old localities including Yagappa Nagar, Ellis Nagar, Tahsildar Nagar and Senthilnathan Street.
Residents said the heightened manholes have resulted in raw sewage backing up through household toilets and flooding homes during peak usage, making some properties difficult to live in or sell. We have spent lakhs raising the flooring outside the house and even had to build a ramp for vehicle access,” he said. Nagarajan said sewage pipes outside his house had to be removed and relaid at a higher elevation to prevent backflows. “Whenever it rains, water enters the house because of the elevation discrepancy instead of draining out, and remains stagnant for days,” he said. “Contractors must strictly adhere to these fixed benchmarks during all future repair and maintenance projects to permanently end the recurring nightmare of indoor sewage flooding,” Velumurgan said. A senior corporation official said road milling requirements would be considered in upcoming roadworks. “Action will be taken against contractors who do not adhere to the proper regulations on road milling,” the official said.
As road levels rose, contractors also raised manholes by adding brickwork over existing chambers. “Now, we find ourselves almost four feet below the road level. Civic activist M Velumurgan, who lives in Tahsildar Nagar, has urged the corporation to take immediate corrective measures. In a petition to chief minister C Joseph Vijay, he sought the removal of excess road height and the permanent installation of fixed baseline elevation markers on every street.