Hatton Estate residents fed up with unattended sewer line
The unbearable ongoing overflowing sewage has made has forced some of the residents to move from their homes.
NOT only do they have to relive the traumatic experience that they faced during the floods, but Hatton Estate residents are practically living in filth with sewage flowing into the river that runs alongside their homes in Durham Place and Heaton Nicholls Drive.
One of the residents, Tyron Karamchund, said the sewer has been flowing into the river that runs behind his home.
According to the residents the sewage has been flowing into the river since the floods, and it gets worse every day.
“The smell is terrible, it is a health hazard and it is chasing away our neighbours whom we have stayed in harmony with for years,” he said.
Also read: Sewerage issues a health risk for residents
His neighbour, Lindomusa Mpanza, said all their problems started during the April 2022 floods.
“We never really had these problems before those floods. It seems like this river has been diverted, and what’s worse is that the water cannot flow properly along the tunnels as they are filled with litter and debris.”
Mpanza said that after the first floods, his insurance took a long time to pay him, and barely a month after he fixed his property, the second floods hit again.
“I do not know what to do anymore; I feel so powerless; it just breaks my heart seeing a neighbourhood that I fell in love with, and have many memories of deteriorating like this because of, this sewage. I cannot even sell this place.”
He said it is also a health hazard. “My children are forever sick, and the flies come inside the house whenever we cook. We are forced to close the doors and windows as we cannot relax in our backyard anymore.”
Another concerned resident said, “We have asked the municipality to at least put a gabion basket but were told about budget constraints.”
The residents said they are still traumatised from the incidents that happened during the floods.
“We witnessed cars with people in them flowing along the river. We also witnessed bodies being recovered. It is still a nightmare.”
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