16,270 Tonnes of Silt Removed as Chennai Ramps Up Monsoon Preparations
Chairing a review meeting at the Ripon Buildings, the Mayor directed officials to expedite all ongoing monsoon preparedness works to ensure the city is fully prepared before the onset of the rainy season
CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon only a few months away, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has intensified its flood preparedness measures, including desilting and upgrading stormwater infrastructure and readying emergency response systems, Mayor R. Priya said on Wednesday.
Chairing a review meeting at the Ripon Buildings, the Mayor directed officials to expedite all ongoing monsoon preparedness works to ensure the city is fully prepared before the onset of the rainy season.
Officials informed the Mayor that the Corporation has removed 16,270 metric tonnes of silt and water hyacinth from canals, lakes and ponds between May 2 and July 10.
A fleet of 21 specialised machines, including amphibious excavators, mini-amphibious excavators, robotic multipurpose excavators and super sucker vehicles, has been deployed to clean 44 canals and water bodies citywide to ensure the city remains free of debris.
The Mayor also instructed officials to speed up ongoing canal strengthening works, including raising and retaining walls, laying concrete canal beds and carrying out restoration work above bodies.
Of the 241 ponds maintained by the Corporation, improvements were carried out in 214 ponds. Of the work in 83 ponds, 50 works have been completed in 49 ponds, while development is continuing in the remaining 34 ponds.
The Corporation said desilting and stormwater drainage network works were progressing. Of the 1,095 silt traps, cleaning has been completed in 68,281, while work on the remaining 54 is under way. The desilting operations are being monitored through the GCC mobile application.
Officials said 120 pump stations and water storage facilities are being monitored round-the-clock from the integrated command and control centre to ensure quick response during heavy rainfall.
To minimise rain-related disruptions, the Corporation has also deployed 15 mechanical tree-pruning vehicles, 231 chainsaws and five vehicle-mounted tree-cutting machines to remove hazardous tree branches before the monsoon. For flood management, 138 motor pumps and 33 generators have been stationed at the city’s 19 subways to prevent waterlogging. In low-lying areas, 525 motor pumps and 188 electric pumps have been kept ready for emergency dewatering operations.
The civic body has also identified 215 monsoon relief centres and 106 community kitchens to accommodate and provide food to residents in the event of flooding. Officials have been instructed to ensure that all facilities are fully equipped before the rainy season.
The Mayor directed the officials to complete pending stormwater drain works, including the construction of 1,128 metres of drain connections at 15 missing links, to improve rainwater flow.
She also stressed the need to complete ongoing road works and immediately rectify roads that have been excavated for civic works.
The Corporation has asked the public health department to maintain adequate stocks of medicines, mosquito repellents and continue organising medical camps during the monsoon season.
The Corporation’s 1913 helpline will be available throughout the monsoon season to receive complaints related to the monsoon and public health and respond promptly. She urged the officials to complete all precautionary works without delay to minimise inconvenience to residents during the northeast monsoon.
