Monsoon imminent, but drain desilting remains unfinished

Chennai: As the monsoon approaches, Tambaram Corporation is yet to complete desilting of drains in all zones, raising fears of flooding. Despite an allocation of 40 crore for the project, around 50% of the work is incomplete.Of the 785 km of drains targeted for desilting, only 386 km have been cleared. And, of the 6,930 culverts identified for cleaning, only 2,130 have been done. The project was scheduled for completion in September. Significant portions of the work remains pending.

Drains in Pallavaram, Selaiyur, Chitlapakkam, and Sembakkam are clogged with debris, silt, and garbage. These drains are not maintained regularly, residents said. “Like every year, we fear that this year too our streets will be flooded. We only hear about the projects but see nothing on the ground,” said resident Mahesh Kannan.A public health official of the corporation said the buildup of silt and pollutants in the drains will lead to water pollution. When rainwater cannot flow freely through the drains, it accumulates in stagnant pools increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue. “The corporation should allocate more funds for emergency response and cleanup after each heavy rainfall event,” said Ramkumar J, a resident.Corporation commissioner R Alagumeena has instructed councillors of all 70 wards to oversee desilting. During the council meeting last week, the commissioner said the corporation is planning to streamline the tendering process and allocate additional resources to accelerate drain desilting. “The city’s weather department informed me that Tambaram will be vulnerable during the monsoon season. We plan to complete desilting work by this month,” the commissioner said.Activist V Santhanam said "it remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient to ensure readiness for the rains."

Unfinished drains leave Chennai's Radial Road in big mess

The 12km Pallavaram Thoraipakkam Radial Road improvement project in Chennai, India, has been ongoing for four years, with a cost of 225 crore. However, residents and road users are questioning where the money has gone, as the road, drains, and pavement remain unfinished. The state highways department is responsible for constructing macrodrains along the road, but barely any progress has been made. Without completion, low-lying areas are at risk of flooding during the upcoming monsoon season. Residents are also concerned about the lack of service lanes, traffic signals, and bus shelters on the road.

Tambaram mayor inspects rainwater drainage works in Sembakkam

Tambaram mayor Vasantakumari Kamalakannan has ordered officials to fix the rainwater accumulation in Annai Anjugam Ammaiyar Nagar in Sembakkam. She inspected the stormwater drainage works and instructed them to complete the project on time to avoid future flooding in the area.

Drains not cleaned for yrs, manholes broken, sewage flows on to streets

Residents of Sector 43 in Gurgaon have been dealing with overflowing sewer lines for the past two years. Around 70% of the manholes in the area are overflowing, causing unhygienic conditions and health concerns. Broken or uncovered manholes also pose a risk of accidents. Despite multiple complaints, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has not taken any remedial measures. The sewer lines in the sector have not been properly cleaned in years, leading to blockages. The existing infrastructure is unable to handle the increasing population. MCG officials have promised to address the issue.

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