Works to revive Meenambakkam, Keelkattalai drains collect tempo to cut back inundation

Some southern suburbs could face much less inundation this 12 months, as works to enhance surplus programs of varied water our bodies are in full swing.

The long-neglected Meenambakkam drain is being restored to regain its authentic flood-carrying capability of 1,150 cubic ft per second (cusecs). Originating from Tirusulam, the drain runs for two.2 km earlier than becoming a member of the Adyar river upstream of Chennai airport’s runway.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) is implementing the ₹ 1.98 crore mission to revive the drain and mitigate flooding in localities reminiscent of Pallavaram cantonment and Cowl Bazaar. Officials stated the canal had turn into closely silted and misplaced outlined banks in stretches behind the airport.

Nearly 80% of the work to widen, deepen, and strengthen the canal has been accomplished. A field culvert can be being constructed. Once completed by mid-October, the mission is anticipated to cut back flooding by 60-70% throughout the Northeast monsoon, in line with officers.

Similarly, work on the Keelkattalai surplus course- which confronted delays on account of fund constraints- has been expedited, forward of the monsoon. The WRD is specializing in enhancing weak stretches alongside S.Kolathur, Bagyalakshmi Nagar and Ichangadu to cut back inundation in neighbouring areas like Kovilambakkam and Madipakkam.

The four-km surplus course, which originates from Keelkattalai tank, additionally receives extra water from upstream water our bodies, together with Pallavaram Periya eri and Nanmangalam. It collects flood discharge from areas en route, together with Narayanapuram and S.Kolathur, earlier than draining into the Pallikaranai marshland.

Residents have urged that main works be accomplished early to avert flooding. J. Sankar, coordinator, Federation of Sunnambu Kolathur Residents’ Welfare Associations, stated shutters just lately put in in water our bodies reminiscent of Narayanapuram and Keelkattalai have to be operated successfully throughout the wet season to manage launch of surplus water.

Noting that further channels have been constructed lately, he stated the flood safety wall being constructed now within the Keelkattalai channel’s weak parts might mitigate inundation. “We anticipate flooding to cut back from the sooner stagnation interval of two days,” he stated.

Officials stated about 60% of the Keelkattalai surplus course restoration has been accomplished. The channel’s authentic width- starting from 5 metre to 25 metre- had shrunk to twenty metre in some locations owing to encroachments.

The ₹59.10 crore mission has been taken up in two reaches for faster completion. Apart from desilting and boundary demarcation, work is in progress to construct flood safety partitions and clear encroachments. Once restored, the channel would be capable to carry about 3,000 cusecs of flood water. The total mission shall be over by March subsequent 12 months.