Ventilating columns to avoid drainage breakdowns

The rising breakdowns and road settlements due to drainage lines will soon be a thing of the past. For, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has decided to install ventilating columns near alternate manholes at a cost of Rs5.42 crore.

“The roads face problems of drainage breakdown because the sewerage flowing into the drainage line produces gas and corrodes it in the long run. And, the problem multiplies when it is found inside a 40-50-year-old pipe. But, with the ventilating columns, the AMC aims to provide a permanent solution to it,” said an official of the AMC’s drainage department.

These columns would provide an escape route to the gas without affecting the drainage line. All the six zones of AMC have been asked to identify locations to install the columns.
A total of 1,599 ventilating columns would be installed near the drainage lines. While 762 would be set up in the new west zone at a cost of Rs2.58 crore, 262 would be installed in the west zone for Rs89 lakh, 300 for the trunk main line at Rs1.02 crore and 275 for east, central, south and north zones at a cost of Rs93 lakh.

The proposal to install such columns in the new west zone was approved by the water and sewerage committee of the AMC on Monday.

“It’s an old technology, which will be revived to prevent leakages and breakdowns. Over the years, due to the widening of roads, the columns were removed, leaving no room for gas to escape,” said Suresh Patel, chairman of the water and sewerage committee.

“The plan is to install such columns at every alternate manhole. But, for those situated near the roads, the columns will be fixed on the roadside,” he said. Would the new project have any effect on the city dwellers? “Since the pillars/columns will be 12 metres above ground level, gas will get diluted in the air and won’t reach below,” said an official, adding that the entire project will be completed in a year.