Chennai Corporation to spend ₹100 crore to give canal network a makeover

Greater Chennai Corporation investing ₹100 crore to enhance canal infrastructure, prevent flooding in key areas, involving residents in decision-making process.

Greater Chennai Corporation will set up sump and pump arrangements with shutters, and additional infrastructure in drains and canals, spending ₹100 crore to mitigate flooding in various parts of the city.

GCC Commissioner J.Kumaragurubaran has directed officials of all the 15 zones to identify locations that require additional infrastructure to prevent flooding along canals and drains.

Civic officials will study the flood prone areas near canals, hold consultations with local residents before a meeting scheduled on January 8 to identify locations. Residents’ associations have been requested to contact zonal officers in their zones or ward councillors or call GCC helpline 1913 to share details of flooding near canals before the meeting on January 8.

“As of now GCC maintains 75 km of canals. We have planned canal lining, additional lift, trash booms, chain link protection barrier for preventing dumping of waste, entry gates for deployment of the heavy duty desilting vehicles, additional shutters, pump and sump arrangements in each canal. Each zonal officer has to make a PPT on January 8, for the canals in their respective zone. The SWD department will coordinate this presentation. Based on the approvals, estimates have to be submitted immediately,” said Mr.Kumaragurubaran.

“GCC is planning to invest ₹100 crore in this scheme. It has more than 3,000 km of stormwater drains. But 75 km canals are crucial in flood mitigation because the canals take rain water to the rivers like Cooum, Adyar and Kosasthalayar,” he said.

Many of the canals such as Mambalam canal will get shutters and sump and pump arrangements to prevent flooding in areas such as T.Nagar. “We will widen the Mambalam canal where it joins the Adyar river. Many canals need lining. Bunds will be raised in many canals. Several bunds are lower than the maximum flood level,” said an official.

Work on assessment of Reddikuppam Canal, Buckingham Canal, Veerangal Odai and Raj Bhavan Canal is under way. For instance, Reddikuppam canal does not have lining and the civic body is planning to carry out the work to prevent encroachment, officials said.