Work on stormwater drains yet to begin in 225 locations

  • | Tuesday | 16th October, 2018

Chennai Corporation has not started work on stormwater drains in 225 locations across the city despite the northeast monsoon looming large. So Corporation officials are planning to complete work on desilting of all stormwater drains by the end of this week. Each of the 15 zones of Chennai Corporation has completed work on desilting more than 70% of the stormwater drains. For example, work on stormwater drains along the Nelson Manickam Road, Broadway and Durgabai Deshmukh Road started within 10 days of issuance of ‘work order’ to the contractors associated with the project. Completion of work on drains that cross 20 roads will be a challenge,” said an official.

more-in Chennai Corporation has not started work on stormwater drains in 225 locations across the city despite the northeast monsoon looming large. At a meeting conducted on Monday by the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Atulya Misra, flood monitoring officers stressed the need for completion of “missing links” in stormwater drain network in 335 locations that have reported flooding in the past. “Out of the 335 locations, we started work in 110. But it has been suspended in many areas because of restrictions by the traffic police,” said an official. For example, work on stormwater drains along the Nelson Manickam Road, Broadway and Durgabai Deshmukh Road started within 10 days of issuance of ‘work order’ to the contractors associated with the project. But the traffic police have asked the Corporation to suspend the work citing traffic congestion in the areas. “We have suspended the work. Engineers are exploring other options,” said an official. All the 71 contractors associated with the project have been asked to begin work this week. “Work will start in 200 locations. Completion of work on drains that cross 20 roads will be a challenge,” said an official. Desilting work According to civic officials, the city is unlikely to get rains till October 20. So Corporation officials are planning to complete work on desilting of all stormwater drains by the end of this week. Each of the 15 zones of Chennai Corporation has completed work on desilting more than 70% of the stormwater drains. The delay in desilting 33 culverts of the Railways in various parts of the city has also affected disaster preparedness. Officials did not attend Many government agencies such as Metrowater, PWD, NHAI and TNEB did not participate in Monday’s meeting. The PWD has not completed desilting of Velachery Lake, Ambattur Lake, Korattur Lake and major canals such as Buckingham Canal, Veerangal Odai, Velachery Surplus Canal, Otteri Nullah, Puzhal Surplus Canal and Retteri Surplus Canal, claim Corporation officials. The Highways Department has also not completed work on one of the three vents of Velachery-Taramani Link Road, officials added.

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