Areas around Porur lake may be spared from flooding this monsoon

WRD takes up work on strengthening the network of channels in the area

Localities around Porur lake may be spared from floods during the ensuing northeast monsoon as the Water Resources Department (WRD) started work on improving the network of channels in and around Porur and Kundrathur on Thursday.

Several areas on the west of Porur lake, including Srinivasapuram, Iyyappanthangal, Mangadu and Paraniputhur, get flooded during the rainy season as the water courses have been urbanised over the years.

The lake’s surplus course running for 1,100 metres would be improved and two regulators installed near the weir to control the water flowing into the surplus course and reduce waterlogging in the neighbouring areas.

It would help plan water release ahead of any heavy inflow and maintain storage in the lake and prevent flooding, said WRD officials.

Of the ₹250 crore provided for flood mitigation work in various parts of the city, nearly ₹100 crore has been allocated for improvements to the network of water channels around Porur lake, which have vanished over the years due to urbanisation.

Minister for MSMEs and Rural Industries T.M. Anbarasan and Kancheepuram Collector M. Aarthi were present during the inauguration of the work.