With monsoon looming, several localities of the city face the risk of inundation as flood mitigation work is progressing at a snail’s pace. In some areas, the work has not been taken up at all. TOI visited more than a dozen floodprone zones including Semmenchery’s DLF area, Velachery’s Ram Nagar, Rajamannar Salai in KK Nagar, Jawaharlal Nehru High Road in Vadapalani and several interior areas in Pulianthope. In these neighbourhoods, storm water drain work has not been completed, which means residents are at risk of another bout of floods.
In Semmenchery, DLF area was inundated with waist-deep water last year. This year, inundation is certain as the water resources department has converted all major roads into storm water drain construction sites. More than 80% of the 70-Feet Road is now taken up for macro-drain work.
At a cost of `150 crore, water flowing from small streams like Madurapakkam and Ottiambakkam stream are now being connected to Pallikaranai marshland down south. While the WRD officials say the deadline for this project is May 2023, memories of the past haunt residents.
“We are making plans to vacate our houses before it rains,” said R Shivakumara grocery store owner in Semmenchery our problems. I can’t remember a time when it didn’t flood during monsoon.” “Over 90% of SWD work is completed; we hope this time these areas will fare better,” said zonal officer of Thiru Vi ka Nagar, Murugan. Last year, Pulianthope flooded because the Otteri Nullah was not desilted, resulting in water stagnation in the Buckingham Canal.
In KK Nagar, residents say the civic body has just de-clogged the drains. “We faced no problem when it rained last week, but we will know the real impact when it rains heavily like last year”, said T Jayavela shopkeeper in KK Nagar.
One locality that the corporation claims will be free from inundation this year due to replacement of faulty storm water drain network is Ramnagar in Velachery. However, J Kathiravan, an auto driver and resident of Ramnagar, said that nothing had been done that may prevent floods this year. Councillor for Velachery’s ward 176 V Anandam asserted that more than 90% of the drain work had been wrapped up, and there is no chance for floods this time in the area
Claiming that 97% of SWD work in the city under Singara Chennai 2.0 scheme has been completed, Mayor R Priya said only 3.6km of drain work was pending.
“Data points aside, whether the city floods or not will be known in less than a week,” said a civic activist who did not wish to be indentified.