Crisis Management and Solutions for Sewage Treatment Plant in Karikan Nagar Township

2. BRIEF BUT COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE FOR HON’BLE COLLECTOR Dr Jagan Mohan R, MD Secretary

3. Presentation Contents • A Crisis Looms • The Crisis Explodes • A Team Arises • Plan a Solution • Execution • Challenges & Resolutions • Existing Issue • The Human Side of it all

4. A Crisis Looms • The Original Design of Township – Included sewers, underground drains and sewage treatment plant. • A STP Constructed, but details of its commissioning and running – Missing. • Almost all Residents unware of any Details

5. Promotional Layout

6. A Map for Orientation

7. The Crisis Explodes • Underground Drainage Network – Functional • Sewage was apparently let out into the Neighbouring Steam since 2008 • Residents of Karikan Nagar raise issue of Dengue Fever, Media Coverage ensues • TN Pollution Control Board takes notice, Inspection, Discovers Sewage letout

8. Crisis Explodes • TN PCB Issues Notice to the Association regarding the Sewage Treatment Plant failure • Association fails to respond • TN PCB files complaint with Police, SDM. • Hon’ble SDM issues individual Notices to each House and the Association Collectively • Directs to cease letting out sewage water from premises, to build Septic Tanks or Showcause why not.

9. The Crisis Contd.. • Authorities from Revenue Dept., seal the pipeline inside and outside the School • The PSBB Millennium School has the last mile connection from the Township to STP Site • Septic Tank Option is Explored, Sewage begins to build up, overflows into streets everywhere • General Body Meeting Called, solution evades. • Crisis in full blown mode. Confusion.

13. Team Arises • Houseowners (>200) appear at the SDM Court, 28 September 2017. – First Hearing. • SDM meets each houseowner and all of us collectively. Asks pointed questions about the Sewage Problem and of the Association’s responsibility – Association defunct. • Directs to hold an Emergency General Body Meeting and elect new body to take up responsibilities, Unapproved Layout.

14. Team Arises • Crisis is complicated by new discovery that the Layout is unapproved (BDO informs) • Panic • A Team of Volunteers come forward to take up the Challenge. • Nobody knows what and how to proceed. • A Team is born out of this furnace of Crisis

15. Plan a Solution • Newly Elected Body report back to SDM, gets another Date to appear to showcause. • The Team meets for the first time. I was new to everybody else, awkward first steps. • Only one Vision & Mission

16. Tuckman’s Five Stages of Teams

17. Solution is decided upon • Comprehensive Study of our Problem • Consulted various Literature, Experts • Considered Septic Tanks • Soil Tested for Permeability – Low draining loamy and clay • Not enough area for Sullage Secondary Treatment • Operationalise the Sewage Treatment Plant?

19. The Solution • General Body Meeting with SDM Present – Oath Taking, Swachh Bharat Pledge, October 05, 2017 • Presentation before SDM as Showcause. • SDM accepts presentation as response to Showcause, TN PCB to be consulted.

20. A Plan is formalised • Operationalise the STP. • Collect Funds • Seek Assistance from Govt. • Expert Assistance from PCB to choose STP Design and Builder. • Call for Quotes. • Selection of Quote with Expertise from PCB

21. Execution • Taskforces Formed: • Negotiation and Initiation Committee • Project Monitoring Committee • Liasion Committee • Funds Collection Committee • Taskforce - Electrical

22. Systemic Execution • Database of Houses, Owners and Contact Numbers created • Maintenance Fee Payment Details digitalised. • Street wise Executive Members selected. • Street Level Push for Education about STP initiated. • Projected Cost Calculated, Collection of STP Fund arrived at with a formula by an Actuary

23. Systemic Execution, contd.. • House to House Canvassing. • Ground rules for handling Funds established. • Separate Bank Account, Online Transfers are main modes of collection. • Daily, Weekly and Monthly Statements released on Whatsapp Group. • List of Payees Shared, Reconciled and Finalised.

24. Budget Prepared • Budget Prepared with Contingency overheads • Negotiation Committee drafted Agreements. • All documents placed in a Publically Accessible Google Drive Online, Address Shared at GBM • All documents in public domain, still accessible.

25. Committee Based Decisions • All decisions made in Executive Body with wide representation, voting. • Major decisions like selection of STP builder, ratified by General Body Meeting. • Democratic, Inclusive, Participatory Decision Making Process • Consensus in almost all decisions.

26. Challenges & Resolution • Electricity Connectivity – • No Three Phase Connectivity in Township • Frequent Power outrages • Visited TANGEDCO, option of sub-station explored • Fourth Wire under process

27. Karikan Nagar • Karikan Nagar residents objected actively. • We reached out and called them for meeting. • We had one meeting between us, very friendly, but heated exchange of views for more than 3 hours. • Two more peace meetings. • Victory for Diplomacy, we arrived at an mutually acceptable Accord, Signed.

28. School Issue • Under process. • All Houses have underground drainage system, network shared. • Easement Rights under Easement Act. • School is part of our community, need to explore amicable solution, talks underway

29. Few Individuals, Agenda Unknown • Harassment of Members everywhere. • Excessive, Vexatious Questioning • All other members frustrated. • Misinformation, spreading canards, fear, uncertainty and doubt. • Demanded STP inauguration Date. • Once Date give, now want to Stop It. • Agenda, Conspirators behind them - Unknown

30. Human Story • The STP is but a small project. • But there is a Human Story behind it. • Coming together of a community • Civic Sense of belonging and ownership • Teambuilding, Wide Satisfaction • Happiness, Frustrations, Fears, Hopelessness. • Myth: Government is always ineffective to Government as an active Partner

31. If this STP fails… • Consequences will have far reaching repercussions. • Volunteers will leave. They are under no obligation to perform. • Vacuum will be filled by anti-socials. • Never again. • Darkness looms once again.

32. We still have faithjai hind