CM, Dy CM visit control centres, camps for spot check

Chennai: Location hopping by Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and spot inspections of control centres, relief camps and assessment of damage to infrastructure marked the day when Cyclone Fengal made a landfall near Chennai on Saturday.Addressing reporters from the state emergency operations centre at Ezhilagam, Chief Minister Stalin said floods in T Nagar areas, where Smart City projects had been done, were drained by afternoon. "Preemptive measures were taken in waterlogging-prone areas of Chennai, and there were no significant issues spotted. Any problems arising out of cyclone-induced rain will be addressed promptly. The govt is prepared to handle any monsoon-time civic challenge," he added.He also visited a community kitchen in Royapuram and a 120-year-old, 8 MLD (million litres a day) sewage pumping station in Flower Bazaar to check its functioning.Later in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited several locations, and said 2.3 lakh people were provided food today across 329 relief centres set up by the GCC, including 8,500 for breakfast and 2,23,700 for lunch. Additionally, 386 Amma Canteens in Chennai offered free meals.Around 1,700 motor pumps were deployed to drain water and 27 trees cleared using hydraulic equipment. He said that 103 boats have been kept on standby. "Over 22,000 officials and workers were engaged in flood mitigation and relief efforts," said Udhayanidhi.In many areas in the city, sewage overflowed with rainwater. In Korattur housing board colony and Manapakkam, the stormwater drains overflowed with sewage, thanks to illegal sewage connections. In Kodungaiyur and Captain Cotton Canals, sewage water turned the excess water flowing out black. This will join Otteri Nullah, which will finally enter the north Buckingham Canal. The Metrowater received close to 400 complaints on sucking out water and sewage overflows in the city on Saturday.Greater Chennai Corporation said that Metrowater was pumping excess sewage into stormwater drains while the latter blamed GCC for clogging the sewers by pumping rainwater, which may stress the sewerage system.