Sewage seeping onto streets of Nolhivaram for past 2 months

H. Dh. Nolhivaram Council has said that sewage had been seeping out onto streets of the island for over two months with no solution found for the problem to the island’s sewerage system.

The problem arose when two pumps installed for the sewerage system of the settlement of people from three islands in 2011 got damaged on February 28 and junctions overflowed with sewage, leading it to seep on to the streets.

The settlement has 134 housing units.

President of Nolhivaram Council, Ahmed Riyaz informed “Sun” on Wednesday that a petrol pump was being used as a temporary solution, but that sewage was still seeping on to the streets leading to concern from citizens.

“Sewage has seeped on to the street three, four times. And at the same time, like I said before sewage keeps coming up from the manhole in front of the preschool. That’s a main road people live on,” said Riyaz.

He said that council had been using a petrol pump to pump out the sewage out into the ocean from February 28 onwards, but that sewage was still seeping onto the streets.

He said that this had led to spread of diseases such as loose motion in children. And that they were working on containing the outbreak.

Riyaz said that they had sent letters to government authorities requesting for a permanent solution to the problem.

“Sun” was unable to reach government authorities for a word on the issue.

However, Riyaz said that Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had promised to find a solution to the problem.

“We sent the quotation of the two pumps that were damaged to MWSC, as well as the ministry. Minister said that they were discussing with Fenaka and MWSC to find a solution to the problem,” said Riyaz.