Stormwater drain desilting in Tamil Nadu to be finished by October 10, says MAWS Secretary
Tamil Nadu's Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department says stormwater drain desilting will be completed by October 10, with monsoon readiness works under way across Chennai and other cities.
Desilting of stormwater drains across Tamil Nadu is progressing with a completion target of October 10, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi said after inspecting Northeast monsoon preparedness works in several Chennai zones on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Bedi said the Chief Minister had directed all local bodies in the State to remain fully prepared for the monsoon. Within Greater Chennai Corporation limits, roughly one lakh silt catch pits were cleared in the first phase, and second-phase desilting is continuing.
Desilting is also being carried out in the Buckingham Canal at 18 locations and along the Cooum River at 14 locations, besides internal canals in Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Madurai, he said.
A video-conference review chaired by the Chief Secretary will be held on September 29 with all district collectors. Ministers and IAS officers have been appointed as monitoring officers for Chennai zones.
According to Mr. Bedi, the Water Resources Department has allocated ₹42 crore to prevent blockages at river mouths. Dredging with specialised machinery is under way at the Cooum river mouth, Adyar, Muthukadu and North Chennai, and will continue through December and January.
Barricades at drain work sites are mandatory, and a joint technical committee has been formed to install temporary drains and water pumps at 20 to 30 Metro Rail work locations, he added.
During the inspection, Mr. Bedi reviewed a 5.10-km stormwater drain project on Mogappair Road in the Valasaravakkam zone, of which 3.15 km is complete. The project is valued at ₹130 crore. He also examined a 2.5-km drain at Korattur junction in the Ambattur zone, where 2 km has been finished at a cost of ₹44 crore, and a 1.16-km integrated drain project on Madhavaram Redhills Road in the Madhavaram zone, costing ₹18 crore, with 1.03 km completed.
Later, he inspected the Ganesapuram flyover, being built at ₹226.55 crore, and rainwater collection well works at the Ganesapuram subway in the Tondiarpet zone. He also reviewed sand-bar removal using a dredger at the Cooum river mouth near Napier Bridge and river restoration works.
Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran and other senior officials were present during the inspections.