Flood mitigation work in Chennai and suburbs to be completed by October 15

The State government has extended the deadline for completion of flood mitigation work in Chennai and suburban districts and has ordered civic agencies to complete the work by October 15.

At a meeting on Monday, B. Chandra Mohan, the Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration, reviewed the flood mitigation works and monsoon preparatory works for Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram districts in the presence of Commissioners of Chennai, Avadi, and Tambaram Municipal Corporations, District Revenue Officials, WRD and Highway Officials.

The Commissioner of Revenue Administration also extensively reviewed various flood mitigation works and instructed to complete before October 15.

“The construction of a storm water drain network under ADB Scheme for Kosasthalaiyar basin is almost completed. The balance 0.69 km will be completed in two weeks. The priority works in Kovalam basin covering Sholinganallur, Perungudi, Alandur will be completed before the onset of Northeast Monsoon,” said an official.

In Chennai Corporation zones, desilting works are being carried out in 1,683 km of storm water drains. Desilting has been completed in 1,328 km of drains so far. The work is under way, and will be completed in one week. Desilting works in 1.10 lakh silt catch pits were fully completed in the first phase. In the second phase, desilting has been completed in 77,600 silt catch pits so far. Storm water drain connectivity works have been taken up at 105 missing locations covering 922 metres. Works have been completed at 44 locations, while works are in progress at 61 locations that will be completed before onset of monsoon,” said an official. 

Desilting and removal of water hyacinth has not been completed in many of the 44 waterways maintained by the Greater Chennai Corporation, 13 canals maintained by the Water Resources Department, and the Cooum, Adyar and Buckingham Canal. Residents have also complained about a delay in desilting work in the seven drains passing through railway minor bridges. Desilting has been completed in 21 drains of railway minor bridges so far. 

Improvement works have been taken up for 8,439 metres in the Captain Cotton Canal, Secretariat Colony Canal, Otteri Nullah and Virugambakkam Canal. Improvement works have been completed for 6,977 metres, said an official. 

Improvement works started in 83 water bodies and 51 water bodies have been improved so far. Work has not been completed in 32 water bodies. 

Motor pumps have been installed and are being monitored in 19 GCC subways and five Highways Department subways to drain water. 

An official said, as per the directions of Chief Minister C.Joseph Vijay, works are being undertaken by allocating at an estimated cost of Rs.100 crore as part of North-East Monsoon preparedness measures in the Greater Chennai Corporation areas. 

In addition to 109 water collection tanks equipped with motor pumps, construction of three water collection tanks is under way and will be completed by the end of this month, said an official.

An online application has been developed for the registration of volunteers to undertake relief operations, and the registration process is currently under way.

Civic agencies will explore the possibility of converting the Moovarasampattu quarry for storage of water, officials said.