CS Inspects Monsoon Preparedness in 3 Zones of Chennai City
During the inspection, Sai Kumar reviewed several key projects aimed at improving the movement of stormwater and preventing inundation in vulnerable parts of south Chennai
CHENNAI: Chennai has stepped up its preparations for the northeast monsoon with chief secretary M. Sai Kumar on Saturday inspecting ongoing stormwater drain, canal and waterbody improvement works in Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones.
During the inspection, Sai Kumar reviewed several key projects aimed at improving the movement of stormwater and preventing inundation in vulnerable parts of south Chennai.
He also stressed the need for close coordination among Greater Chennai Corporation, water resources department, highways department, Chennai Metro Rail and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to ensure that the works are completed before the onset of the monsoon.
In Adyar zone, he inspected an ongoing stormwater drain project near Tidel Park, designed to carry rainwater from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) area into the Buckingham canal.
The project, estimated at Rs. 13.52 crore, involves construction of a 660-metre-long drain with two water channels, each measuring 3 metres by 3 metres. He directed the officials to expedite the work.
In Perungudi zone, he inspected canal improvement works in Mylai Balaji Nagar, ward 188. Works have been taken up along a 235-metre stretch of the First Block canal, with a width of 13 metres, at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.48 crore. Improvement works are also under way along a 207-metre stretch of the Fourth Block canal, with a width of 14.40 metres, at a cost of Rs. 8.68 crore.
The canal carries stormwater towards the Pallikaranai marsh through the canal along the Velachery-Medavakkam Road. The improved drainage network is expected to facilitate the discharge of rainwater from residential areas, including Ram Nagar South, Kubera Nagar and Sadasivam Nagar, thereby reducing water stagnation during heavy rains.
The chief secretary subsequently inspected the removal of water hyacinth being undertaken by the water resources department at Narayanapuram lake in Ward 189. He also reviewed the sluice and canal structures associated with the lake and directed the officials to ensure that monsoon preparedness measures were carried out without causing inconvenience to residents.
He then inspected the stretch between Radial Road and the Perungudi dumpyard, where water hyacinth is being removed from the marshy area along the highways department’s road. The officials were instructed to clear water hyacinth and desilt the 17 culverts along the road so that rainwater could flow without obstruction into the Buckingham canal.
In Sholinganallur zone, Sai Kumar inspected stormwater drain works being carried out by the highways department near OMR at Thoraipakkam, where Chennai Metro Rail works are also under way.
The Rs. 73-crore project is intended to channel water from the Pallikaranai marsh towards the Buckingham canal. Officials were instructed to continue the work and expedite the connectivity required to discharge the water into the Buckingham canal.
He also reviewed ongoing works by Chennai Metro Rail at the Okkiyam Maduvu canal and directed officials to complete the works quickly to ensure the unhindered discharge of stormwater into the canal.
With the northeast monsoon approaching, the chief secretary directed all departments involved in flood mitigation and stormwater management to work in coordination and complete the ongoing works by the end of September.
