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NT Bureau
Chennai, Oct 9:
 

RISKY TRENCH: Stormwater drains on Radhakrishnan Salai at Valasaravakkam are in dire need of repairs and upgrade.

        Incomplete and poorly maintained drains for stormwater on the stretches of Radhakrishnan Salai at Valasaravakkam have now become a major source of irritant for motorists and residents, even as the monsoon is approaching fast.

        The open SWDs (stormwater drains) near Thanthai Periyar Thidal (playground) that runs till the Lamech School is a veritable trap for unwary pedestrians and motorists. Likewise there are many cemented drainage without any covering slabs over them, thus opening convenient slots for public and flat-owners to dump garbage and household refuse.

        Besides in the late hours, motorists and urchins are finding the deep trench a readymade spot to relieve themselves. Thus, throughout the day the stink and malodour pervade the air near these areas in Valasaravakkam. In the rush hours, children and office-goers have to take precaution while negotiating these open drains. 'Every morning, I had to go through tense moments till my children safely reach their school. Though the SWDs are lying on the roadside we have to be careful as the kids might fall into them,' says Nagalakshmi, a home-maker and resident of Vaigai Street.

        Welfare groups and activists had urged the concerned officials to clean up the SWDs and cover them with proper slabs to facilitate a free flow of traffic. According to Chandrasekar, president of Fathima Nagar Residents Welfare Association, the officials are taking steps but it should be at a rapid pace. Further, he said the locality falling under ward-6 of the Valasai Municipality have SWDs which had to be thoroughly cleaned for the floods to pass through without any hassle.

        Another menace is the proliferation of high-rise buildings and apartment complex which add to the pressure on ground water. Moreover, during construction, the builders cover up the SWDs for laying pavements which compound the problem for officials during the clean up of flood drains.

        Speaking on similar terms, R Nagarajan who use to frequent the playground with his children said officials had neglected to maintain the SWDs over the months and now garbage had piled up on the open trenches. He also felt the public should be made aware of maintaining SWDs to avoid waterlogging during rains.

        Turning the neglected SWDs into an opportunity, miscreants and anti-socials use the open pits as public urinal in late hours. Residents hope the municipality would take effective measures to clean up the flood drains before the monsoon sets in.