Chennai: Residents of Mudichur and Varadharajapuram would be staging a token fast on September 11 protesting against the failure of the district administration and PWD against the failure of the district administration and PWD , widening and strengthening of the bunds of Adyar river after the floods that caused havoc in their locality last year.
Despite the loss of lives and destruction of properties suffered by the Chennaities in last year’s flood, PWD has allotted mere Rs 7 crore for removing obstruction and weeds grown in Adyar river, which is grossly inadequate to prevent a repeat of last year’s destructive floods.
Mudichur and Varadharajapuram, near Tambaram, were the worst affected areas in the December floods with the water submerging the first floor of the buildings resulting in life loss and destruction of properties, said V. Rajasekaran, president of Federation of Varadharajapuram Welfare Associations.
Even as the residents are yet to overcome the loss suffered in the floods, no major works were taken up by the PWD in the Adyar river with barely a month left for the onset of Northeast Monsoon, he said, adding that that lacklustre attitude of the bureaucrats have created panic among the people who fear repeat of last year’s floods following the flooding witnessed in the Northern states in the recent rains.
Pointing to the petitions given to Kancheepuram district collector, secretaries of PWD and revenue departments, he said that they had demanded dredging, widening and strengthening of the Adyar river bunds from the point of origin (end of Aadhanur canal at Manimangalam) till Kishkinta. “To press our demands we are holding a token fast on September 11,” he said.
Mudichur panchayat president P. Damodaran said that the protest was aimed at highlighting the inaction of PWD to the state administration. “Immediately after the floods, the PWD was actively removing encroachments for a month’s time. But it was not followed up,” he said, noting that encroachments were not removed in the canal beyond Aadhanur and Manimangalam.
“Only if the canal was deepened and widened, the Mudichur and other adjacent areas will be safe from floods,” he said, adding that PWD should also construct check dams across the canal to store the water to help recharge of ground water table.
A PWD official said that the state government has allocated Rs 7 crore for removing obstructions and weeds grown in the Adyar river before the onset of the monsoon.
“Normally the government will allot Rs 3 crore for the pre-monsoon works. But this year Rs 10 crore was allotted, of which Rs 7 crore was sanctioned for the works on Adyar river,” the official noted.
He noted that his department had already removed six to seven critical obstructions on the Adyar river to ensure a free flow of water. “We will carry out temporary works before the onset of monsoon,” he said.
When asked why deepening and strengthening of bunds works were not taken up, the official said that they had prepared a proposal for permanent restoration of Adyar at a cost of Rs 180 crore.
“Formulation of a proposal would take some time as they have to study various aspects. We will take up the works in March next year after the getting the funds,” the official said.
