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CPI(M) Urges TN Govt to Halt Privatization of Sewerage Projects
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News18•30-09-2026, 18:15
CPI(M) Urges TN Govt to Halt Privatization of Sewerage Projects
- •The Tamil Nadu unit of CPI(M) condemned the state government's move to privatize underground sewerage projects in Madurai and Nagercoil corporations, demanding immediate cancellation of tenders under the Public-Private Partnership model.
- •CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam called the government's action "anti-people," stating that handing over essential public infrastructure to corporate entities for profit was shocking.
- •The party highlighted past privatization attempts, including water supply distribution in Coimbatore and a similar attempt for Salem's water scheme, which faced public backlash.
- •CPI(M) warned of three major risks: increased sewerage taxes for poor and middle-class households, citizens losing direct grievance redressal with civic bodies, and compromised job security for sanitation workers.
- •The CPI(M) demanded that the Tamil Nadu government allocate full state funds to execute the projects through the public sector, noting the schemes are estimated at Rs 2,377.48 crore for Madurai and Rs 189.82 crore for Nagercoil.
Key Questions Answered
The Tamil Nadu government has floated tenders under the Public-Private Partnership model to privatize underground sewerage projects in the Madurai and Nagercoil corporations, which are estimated at Rs 2,377.48 crore and Rs 189.82 crore, respectively.
The CPI(M) warned that privatization will burden middle and lower-class households with steep sewerage taxes under maintenance guise, deny citizens direct grievance redressal from local civic bodies, and compromise the job security and safety of sanitation and temporary employees.
The CPI(M) has demanded that the Tamil Nadu government immediately cancel the tenders and allocate full state funds to execute the underground sewerage projects directly under public sector and civic control.