Civic agencies have set September 30 as the deadline to clear construction debris from the Cooum as part of flood preparedness, ahead of the onset of the Northeast monsoon.
At a meeting on Friday to finalise flood defence measures for the Cooum, the Water Resources Department (WRD) insisted on completing the removal of debris by September 30, an official said.
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said the civic body was closely coordinating with the WRD, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Highways Department, and other stakeholder agencies to ensure that all ongoing construction activities in and around the Cooum did not adversely affect flood conveyance during the Northeast monsoon.
The major ongoing construction activity is the NHAI’s Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor, large stretches of which run along the Cooum. The GCC consistently insisted on removing all temporary obstructions, including earth bunds, boulders, and other construction materials, well before the onset of monsoon, so that the hydraulic capacity of the river was not compromised.
At the government-level, inter-departmental review meetings have been conducted under the chairmanship of the Minister for Public Works and Highways as well as the Chief Secretary to the government. All agencies concerned were instructed to work in coordination to ensure timely completion of pre-monsoon preparedness activities.
The GCC is continuously coordinating with the WRD and NHAI to monitor compliance with these directions, an official said.
Apart from the elevated corridor, bridge construction works being executed by the Highways Department and other agencies across the Cooum have also been reviewed. Wherever construction activities have the potential to obstruct water flow during heavy rainfall events, the executing agencies have been advised either to complete the critical portions of the works before the monsoon or, wherever completion is not feasible, to remove temporary obstructions and restore adequate waterway to ensure uninterrupted flow.
Detailed assessment
Recognising the importance of assessing the hydraulic impact of permanent structures, the WRD has entrusted Anna University with conducting a detailed scientific impact assessment of the piers constructed on the river for the elevated corridor. It will evaluate their impact on river hydraulics, flood conveyance, sediment transport, and water levels during extreme rainfall events. Based on the findings, Anna University will recommend appropriate mitigation measures, which will be implemented by NHAI, in consultation with the WRD and other agencies, an official said.
GCC, in coordination with WRD, is also undertaking its routine pre-monsoon preparedness measures, including desilting of storm water drains, removal of encroachments and floating debris wherever required, inspection of vulnerable locations, and continuous monitoring of river conditions. A joint coordination mechanism has been established among GCC, WRD, NHAI and the Highways Department to review progress periodically and address any emerging issues promptly, an official said.
Published – July 31, 2026 11:51 pm IST
