Apartment owners in Ambattur allege that high Infrastructure and Development Charges (IDC) levied by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has made them reluctant to obtain proper sewage connections. S Suresh, General Secretary of the Federation of Ambattur Residents’ Welfare Associations (FARWA) was quoted as saying, “Most flats were built before Ambattur became part of the Corporation and they are yet to get sewage connections because they either cannot afford the IDC or simply refuse to pay it. The IDC is collected in addition to connection charges and is an unfair burden.”Currently, most of the sewage from these apartment complexes is stored in storm water drains from where it drains into the Ambattur Lake.