After lessons from 2015 deluge, city braces for monsoon battle

Memories of last year’s unprecedented rain, which caused massive flooding across the city, are still fresh in people’s minds. And civic bodies are working to prevent the recurrence of such a scenario this season.  Officials from Public Works Department (Water Resources Department) and Chennai Metro Water and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) have geared up and started to create a plan to flood-proof Chennai. PWD officials claimed that Chembarambakkam Lake, which became a talking point last year, has been restored. 

M. Bhakthavatchalam, Superintendent Engineer, Palar Basin Circle, Chennai Region, told DT Next, “After the floods, we are very cautious and are also carrying out lake improvement and desilting works. In Chembarambakkam lake, we have been carrying out works like fencing at some points, strengthening of bunds, prevention of effluents from mixing with water and construction of ramparts along lakes.”  He also added that funds were being provided by World Bank. The SE also pointed out that works were under way at the four main lakes - Poondi reservoir, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam. 

“We can handle any eventuality connected with the upcoming monsoon. Most importantly, main rivers like Cooum and Adyar are being widened at vulnerable points for free flow of water,” said another Assistant Executive Engineer.  Last year’s floods damaged sewage pipelines, leading to an overflow of sewage water. A CMWSSB official shared their game plan to tackle the monsoon season ahead. “It is a fact that the city has over 70,000 manholes, which were damaged by the deluge and this had affected sewage management systems. This year, we completed flood restoration works. Water supply will not be affected during monsoon unlike in the previous years,” said a senior engineer. 

While, dealing with water stagnation and fallen trees, Corporation officials were caught unawares during the 2015 floods, as water stagnation caused severe traffic blockage across the city and many roadways were severely damaged. This year, the Greater Chennai Corporation has set up a control room and a round-the-clock special task force has been assigned to each zone to deal with monsoon-related complaints. 

A senior Corporation official said, “During monsoon, the first priority will be to keep the city motorable. Then, subways have to be free of any water stagnation. To ensure that subways are clear, we have checked suction pumps and deployed it at specific points. People have been assigned duty near these subways and fuel too has been allocated to run the machines. Corporation staff have been deployed to clear water stagnation in the streets. In areas where severe water-logging is usually seen, the underground drainage systems have been cleaned. In water canals, we have cleared  hyacinth and solid waste clogging them.”