On CM Vijay’s direction, Chennai Metro Water has floated a tender for 13 sewer-cleaning machines for his Perambur constituency — desilting units, jet-rodding machines and super suckers — so that workers no longer have to enter underground sewers. Bids close on October 27; delivery within 180 days.
On CM Vijay’s direction, Chennai Metro Water has floated a tender for 13 sewer-cleaning machines for his Perambur constituency — desilting units, jet-rodding machines and super suckers — so that workers no longer have to enter underground sewers. Bids close on October 27; delivery within 180 days.
To make sure no worker has to climb into an underground sewer in his own constituency, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has directed the purchase of 13 modern sewer-cleaning machines for Perambur, to be paid for from the constituency’s allocation. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB / Chennai Metro Water) floated the tender, reported on October 19, 2026.
| Machine | Number | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Three-wheeled desilting machine | 2 | Pulls silt out of narrow lanes |
| Four-wheeled desilting machine | 2 | Desilting on larger streets |
| Jet-rodding machine (2,000 litres) | 2 | High-pressure water jets clear blockages |
| Jet-rodding machine (9,000 litres) | 4 | Heavy-duty blockage clearing |
| Super sucker (8,000 litres) | 3 | Vacuum suction removes sewage and sludge |
The tender notice does not state the total cost.
Manual sewer cleaning exposes workers to toxic gases and life-threatening conditions; it has been banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Several sanitation workers lost their lives in Tamil Nadu this month, and the Perambur machines are a direct response: the work will be done by machines, with workers trained to operate them. Officials have said the model can be extended to other constituencies if it works well.
It is the latest of several steps the Chief Minister has taken in Perambur this month — from flood works on the Captain Cotton Canal to an air-conditioned rest room for delivery workers.
Perambur Sanitation Workers Chennai Metro Water Manual Scavenging Worker Safety Day 163