Chennai, July 19: The Tamil Nadu government has initiated the process for an independent environmental and social audit of 28 major water supply and underground sewerage projects being implemented across 21 urban local bodies in the state. This move is part of a broader effort to improve urban infrastructure, which will also include a dedicated study on manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning practices related to sewers.
These projects are being executed under the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program, a six-year initiative supported by the World Bank, running from 2024 to 2030. The program, approved by the World Bank in December 2023, aims to enhance water security, increase resilience to climate change, and modernize urban governance in the state.
The implementing agency, Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, has invited tenders for the appointment of an independent consultant. This consultant will assess compliance with the environmental and social safety standards set under the program during the implementation of the projects in 2024-25.
The audit will cover infrastructure projects across four categories, including seven underground sewerage schemes in Salem, Tuticorin, Karaikudi, Thiruvarur, Krishnagiri, Theni, and Avadi, which focus solely on sewer collection networks. Additionally, seven underground sewerage projects with sewage treatment plants in Tiruvannamalai, Pudukkottai, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Cuddalore, Dindigul, and Kanchipuram will also be audited.
The review will also encompass the city-wide water supply improvement project in Kanchipuram and 13 pilot projects aimed at providing 24-hour water supply in Avadi, Karaikudi, Pudukkottai, Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Erode, Vellore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Tambaram, Nagercoil, and Rajapalayam.
In its report, the consultant will categorize findings into four areas: compliance, non-compliance, best practices, and areas needing improvement. Where deficiencies are identified, corrective measures will be implemented, followed by a re-inspection of the projects to confirm compliance before the final report is submitted.
A significant aspect of this work will be a comprehensive study related to manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning. The study will review the policy and legal framework associated with sewer maintenance, identify shortcomings in its implementation by urban local bodies, and analyze the conditions under which risky entry into sewers occurs. Furthermore, it will investigate past incidents through discussions with officials, contractors, and sanitation workers, along with field visits.
Additionally, the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs), training programs, and safety measures adopted throughout the sewage management process will also be reviewed.
Within this three-month process, an initial compliance report will be presented within two weeks. Following this, a draft report will be prepared for review by the implementing agencies and the World Bank, culminating in the submission of the final report.
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