Villages near Tambaram face flood threat, resident demand action

Chennai: Schools in Varadarajapuram and Erumaiyur near Tambaram have moved children out of ground-floor classrooms to avoid flooding risks, a recurring issue in the area. Residents are urging the govt to address the issue ASAP. Located just five kilometres from Tambaram, these villages deal with damaged roads and an ever-looming fear of flooding. Situated on either side of Kishkinta Road near Outer Ring Road connecting Vandalur-Minjur, these villages once had original settlements safely positioned above flood levels. However, recent developments in nearby low-lying areas have disrupted natural drainage patterns. A new layout has been created by dumping earth into these low-lying regions, burying natural streams that previously carried floodwaters away. "These buried streams exist only on village maps now. Flood waters flow into previously safe areas, affecting hundreds of dwellings along MGR Road, Bajanai Kovil Street, Ambedkar Street, Munusamy Street and Mudichur-Varadharajapuram joining road," said Jose Punnoose, a resident of Varadarajapuram."We need channels to carry flood water into the river," he added.A villager shared concerns about the Oct rains, which caused severe waterlogging in school compounds, leading to infestations of rats and snakes, putting children at risk. Residents attribute much of the flooding to Outer Ring Road, constructed between the villages and Adyar river. The road obstructs the natural flow of water, worsening the flood risk. "We urgently need more channels to carry water to the Adyar river," said Rajarathinam, a long-time resident.Meanwhile, an revenue department official from the Kancheepuram collectorate said that a cut and cover culvert has already been constructed to address the flooding issue. "Officials have inspected the site, we will carry out the necessary measures," he said
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