Chennai: With the suburbs getting rain and more expected in the coming days, Tambaram Municipality has taken up adequate precautionary measures including constructing stormwater drains and identifying flood-prone areas.
Tambaram Municipality, Municipal Engineer, P V Ravichandran, said Mudichur, CTO Colony and TTK Nagar are the major places that usually get inundated when it rains.
“Stormwater drain work has been completed on one side of Mudichur Road and we are positive that water will get drained. If there is no stagnation here, then the water will not enter CTO Colony. Stormwater drains have also been constructed at TTK Nagar,” he said.
He further said apart from this, there are six other places identified as low-lying areas and measures have been taken to ensure that water does not stagnate.
“We have identified 14 places to set up relief camps and all necessary equipment, including four earthmovers, four machine saws, battery lights are stocked up,” he added.
Speaking about the underground drainage works on several stretches remaining incomplete, the official said 95 per cent of the work have been completed in West Tambaram.
“Most portions of East Tambaram are filled with rock and it takes time to complete the work. Highways department has not still given the go-ahead to start work on the Tambaram-Velacheri Road and we are expecting to get a positive response after the monsoon,” he said, and added that they were rain-ready for now.
At Pallavaram
Speaking about the measures taken in Pallavapuram Municipality, Commissioner Karuppiah Raja, said, “The Municipality schools in Keelkattalai, Hasthinapuram, Zamin Royapettah, Ponniamman Koil and GST Road are the relief centres. Thirteen motors and 1000 sand bags are in place to pump out stagnated water and prevent water from lakes entering the settlements. Ten teams have been formed to work on various aspects during the time of calamity with five labours per team. To keep water-borne disease at bay, we are supplying super-chlorinated water to the residents.”
At Sembakkam
Sembakkam Municipality Commissioner, M R Vasanthy, said, “All necessary equipment including machine saw, cutters, torch lights and 500 sand bags are kept ready. Ten officials are deployed on night duty, so that any emergency is attended without any lag. Apart from this, three rescue centres have been set up just in case there is excess rainfall and a few places get inundated. Provisions too are in stock. Branches in certain places have been cut, so that power lines are not damaged. Regular rounds are being carried out in Rajakilpakkam lake to monitor the water levels, while the strength of the bund too is checked.”
Sembakkam Sanitary Inspector, Nagaraj, said, “Garbage is removed on a regular basis and water stagnation cases are being immediately looked into. Also, adequate medicines are kept at the Urban Public Health Centre.”
At Chitlapakkam
Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat Executive Officer, M Venkatesh, said, “We have set up relief centres at several locations. All necessary emergency equipment are kept ready. The areas where rain water usually gets stagnated have been identified and necessary measures have been taken.”
At Madambakkam
Madambakkam Town Panchayat, Executive Officer, S Loganathan, stated, “Three rescue centres have been set up in the locality. All channels in the Town Panchayat have been widened and alternative measures are being taken to ensure that water does not overflowing onto the road. The Shridi Sai Nagar is where most of the flooding happens and this time we have dug a four feet wide and six feet deep channel, which can carry excess water.”
He also pointed out that close to 300 sand bags are ready and all the weirs from and to Madambakkam lake have been cleared of blockages and there will be no choking anywhere.
When asked about the incomplete SWD work, he noted, “The activity has been stalled due to unforeseen reasons, but we are positive that it will be completed at the earliest.”
Residents speak
Residents of Selaiyur are however worried, as most of the roads on the stretch that were dug up for the laying of underground drainage pipes, have not been re-laid.
“The roads in ward 20 were opened almost a year ago, but are yet to be re-laid. Major stretches in Indra Nagar and Selaiyur are also water-clogged,” rued Karthik, a resident.