Chennai is gearing up for the upcoming monsoon season, with authorities taking proactive steps to ensure the city is prepared for the anticipated heavy rainfall. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the water resources department (WRD), and the Tambaram Corporation are working in unison to address potential flooding issues by undertaking desilting operations, removing garbage and water hyacinth from waterways, and improving drainage infrastructure.
The WRD, responsible for managing major water canals and lake-surplus channels, is currently engaged in desilting and removing water hyacinth across the city and its suburbs. The department has allocated 30.5 crore for this undertaking. The focus is on lake inlets and outlets in key areas like Redhills, Velachery, Ambattur, and Korattur, as well as major canals such as the Otteri Nullah, Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal, and the Buckingham Canal. To expedite the process, the WRD is utilizing amphibian machines and robotic excavators to remove silt and hyacinth.
Further, at a cost of 3 crore, the WRD is widening the mouths of the Adyar, Kosasthalaiyar, Cooum, and Araniyar rivers to facilitate better water flow. They are also addressing the issue of sandbars at the Muttukadu mouth to ensure efficient drainage of water from the rivers into the sea.
The GCC is also diligently preparing for the monsoon. Their ongoing efforts include year-round desilting and removal of garbage and hyacinth. Furthermore, they have installed pumps and sumps in 15 low-lying locations to prevent waterlogging, with plans to expand this infrastructure to other areas. These pumps will collect water from low-lying zones and transfer it to underground sumps, from where it will flow into the stormwater drain system. GCC is also addressing missing links in the stormwater drain network to ensure smooth water flow.
As part of disaster preparedness, the GCC is planning to increase the number of relief centers from the current 169. The commissioner stated that 420 schools and numerous community halls are available to be converted into relief camps during heavy rainfall.
The Tambaram Corporation is also stepping up its monsoon preparations. Within a week or ten days, they will be calling for tenders to desilt and remove hyacinth and garbage, as well as to construct small culverts where required to enhance water drainage. The corporation has earmarked 20 crore for these works, which are expected to be completed by September.
These coordinated efforts across the city administration aim to mitigate potential flooding risks and ensure a smooth monsoon season for Chennai.
