Desilting of storm water drains in Chennai, inadequate mechanisation remains a challenge
Posted on: 07/Sep/2020 10:45:34 AM
It is necessary to fix the defects in the civic infrastructure before the onset of the NE monsoon and the Chennai residents have demanded the corporation to do this.
The storm water drains in Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru-Vi-ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam and Adyar bus routes would be desalted by the Greater Chennai Corporation or GCC by September end using sucker and recycler machines.
There are civic issues in Padi Kuppam Road near Thirumangalam and these issues are not yet resolved. Point is that the residents were worried about the water loggings here when the NE monsoon sets in.
The delay in fixing the civic issues was mainly due to the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in Chennai. As per the residents, the preparedness for the monsoon in many areas was not sufficient.
It is now brought out that after the de-silting of the storm water drains have completed the Chennai corporation commissioner Mr. G. Prakash had instructed the Regional deputy Commissioners to get photos of the localities.
Before September, civic officials would complete the work on 1497 roads taken up under CMCDM or Chennai Mega City Development Mission and TURIF or TN Urban Road Infrastructure Fund. Truth is another 2971 roads would be completed before the onset of monsoons.
For the purpose of de-silting the storm water rains in Chennai, GCC has got 7 machines and the desilting work would be delayed due to inadequate mechanisation of the Chennai Corporation. For de-silting the drain network, manual labourers are expected to be employed. The risk of infection of the workers who de-silt polluted drains during a pandemic is being studied by GCC.
For the completion of work on the building of toe wall and retaining wall in the water bodies in Chennai under Smart City Funding, GCC has set a deadline of 30th September.
