For the residents of Rama Rao Road, rain meant water-logging. Even the slightest of showers would inundate this small stretch adjoining Justice Sundaram Road. The problem worsened after road-relaying works increased the height of Justice Sundaram Road, forcing all the rainwater to enter this street. “Every spell of rain was close to a flood. Since Rama Rao Road is a cul-de-sac, there is no way for the rainwater to flow out. The street also does not have a stormwater drain network. The stretch looked like a river during the heavy rain in June,” said C.R. Ashok, a resident. Residents of Rama Rao Road recently formed a collective called MylaPure where several options to prevent inundation were discussed. They came to know about the successful implementation of recharge wells in the neighbouring areas and decided to dig one in their street. However, they were left disappointed when the project hit a roadblock in the form of utility cables. “We started the project with much hope and with the support of the Mylapore MLA R. Nataraj and the Rain Centre. But just as the workers started digging the well, they found utility cables under the ground and stopped. A recharge well should be 15 feet deep but with the utility cables, we couldn’t dig any further,” he said. The residents had almost given up hope but an assistant engineer from the Greater Chennai Corporation came up with another proposal. “AE Sundararajan inspected the locality and suggested that rainwater collection chambers be dug at four spots. Accordingly, two collection chambers were dug at the intersection of Rama Rao Road and Justice Sundaram Road and one more on Justice Sundaram Road and the last one near the stormwater drain network on 2nd street, Abhiramapuram East,” Ashok added. The work was completed just before heavy rains lashed the city in the first week of October. Much to the residents’ relief, the street was inundation-free. “We don’t have to fear rains anymore. This project was made possible by the collective efforts of the AE, MLA R. Nataraj and all the residents of Rama Rao Road,” he said.

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