Give Us Permanent Solution For Flooding, Say Velachery Residents

Chennai:Despite crores of rupees spent on flood mitigation measures, water stagnation continues to trouble Velachery’s low-lying neighbourhoods, prompting residents to renew their demand for a comprehensive scientific study by experts from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and Anna University to identify the root causes and formulate a permanent solution.

The demand gained urgency after heavy overnight rain inundated parts of AGS Colony and the adjoining areas, including Ram Nagar, during the ongoing northeast monsoon. Residents said emergency pumping remained essential but could not substitute for a long-term, scientifically-validated flood mitigation plan.

During an inspection of the affected areas, information technology minister and Velachery MLA R. Kumar said the government would seek the assistance of IIT-M experts to study the recurring problem.

“Velachery, including Ram Nagar and AGS Colony, is a water basin. Buildings were constructed in this basin around 40 years ago, so waterlogging naturally occurs during heavy rain. Now, the water is being pumped out within three to four hours because of the extensive efforts taken by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC),” he said.

The minister said the GCC had installed additional high-capacity pumps to remove water from streets. He also directed officials to deploy more tractor-mounted motor pumps and ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the situation.

South Chennai MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian and Chennai Mayor R. Priya also inspected the flooded junction of AGS Colony Third Main Road and Sixth Cross Street. Officials from GCC, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, revenue department and Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation were present. However, residents said repeated flooding called for an integrated assessment of the area’s drainage, topography and water-disposal arrangements rather than a response centered primarily on pumping out accumulated rainwater.

“We have requested a comprehensive study of AGS Colony and adjoining flood-prone neighbourhoods by experts from IIT-M and Anna University, in coordination with the government departments, to identify the root causes of recurring flooding and prepare a permanent, integrated flood mitigation plan,” said Geetha Ganesh, secretary of the AGS Colony Residents' Welfare Association (ACRWA).

Alongside flood mitigation, residents have renewed a decades-old demand for direct road connectivity from their neighbourhood to Velachery Bypass Road through the vacant land belonging to the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department.

According to ACRWA, the absence of an alternative exit towards the MRTS Inner Ring Road or Velachery Bypass Road during severe flooding creates difficulties for residents, particularly in emergencies.

The association said the minister took up the request with the HR&CE minister on Sunday following a flood inspection. The association welcomed the intervention but said the immediate priority remained addressing recurrent inundation while pursuing long-term infrastructure improvements.