Mon Jun 30 12:16:08 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Dials Up Fines for Illegal Sewage Connections, Reaching ₹5 Lakh

**Chennai, India – June 30, 2025** – The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council has approved a resolution dramatically increasing fines for unauthorized sewage connections to stormwater drains, potentially reaching a maximum of ₹5 lakh. This move comes in response to a 2014 directive from the Madras High Court, ordering the imposition of penalties for illegal connections and mandating the use of machinery for desilting work.

While the minimum fine remains at ₹5,000, the newly amended regulations significantly raise the stakes for violators. The fine structure is tiered based on building type and usage. Ordinary residential buildings now face a penalty of ₹10,000, while ordinary commercial buildings will be fined ₹25,000. Special residential and commercial buildings will incur fines of ₹50,000 and ₹1,00,000 respectively. The highest penalties are reserved for apartment buildings, with residential-use structures facing ₹2,00,000 fines and commercial-use structures potentially being charged ₹5,00,000.

The GCC cited the High Court ruling as the impetus for the increased penalties. The court directed the city to penalize those who connected sewage lines to stormwater drains and to prioritize mechanical desilting to avoid manual entry.

The changes involve amendments to Sections 191 and 202(5) of the Chennai Corporation Act, 1919, stipulating that sewage discharge onto public streets and unauthorized connections to Corporation-owned infrastructure are prohibited. The legal amendments were approved by the Tamil Nadu government in 2017. The GCC further announced that bylaws would now be introduced under Section 161 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, to further reinforce the regulations.

The crackdown on illegal sewage connections aims to improve sanitation and prevent environmental damage caused by the contamination of stormwater drains.

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