The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Long on plans, short on results, feel residents city pulse

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Monday, Dec 22, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Long on plans, short on results, feel residents city pulse

City Bureau

Urban local bodies, government agencies zealous about getting aid under JNNURM to tackle flood havoc

— Photo: S.S. Kumar

CHOKED: A view of the Virugambakkam canal that overflowed during the recent rains.

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation’s Rs. 360 crore-project proposal to improve stormwater drainage and waterways in north Chennai has recently received approval from the Centre for funding support under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Several other urban local bodies and State government agencies, including Chennai Metrowater and municipalities, are also enthusiastic about receiving project assistance under the multi-crore JNNURM. But going by the outcome of the Rs. 1,200-crore Chennai City River Conservation Project in the past, residents are sceptical about the grand proposals to combat urban flooding and want better results.

City Mayor M. Subramanian said the Corporation had drawn up comprehensive plans for urban flood alleviation. For instance, Otteri Canal’s carrying capacity would be improved in order to reduce flooding in the Pulianthope zone. He stated that JNNURM support would help the civic body carry out large-scale projects to meet future demands.

Only three weeks ago, many parts of the city and its suburbs were inundated. The overflow from the Chembarambakkam and Porur lakes spelt misery for several localities as water entered their homes. Several suburbs were water-logged for days together. Encroachments on city waterways by both private and government agencies block the flow of surplus water.

The river conservation project launched eight years ago to clean the city waterways did not have much success. While Chennai Metrowater strengthened its sewer network and added more sewage treatment plants at the cost of Rs.720 crore, Public Works Department took up improvement works of the waterways at the cost of Rs.250 crore. However, the PWD could not complete certain works due to problems in encroachments removal and rehabilitation of those evicted.

A PWD official said of the 29 water bodies in the city fringes, 70 to 80 per cent of 10 lakes, including the ones at Maduravoyal and Virugambakkam, have been encroached upon. The eviction drive is being carried out in 19 lakes after rains.

Buffers destroyed

The Velachery Lake and the Pallikaranai Marsh are classic examples of how waterbodies, which served as buffers for preventing flooding of residential colonies, are dying a slow death. The first major blow to the Velachery Lake came when the bypass road was formed. The forming of the Bypass Road literally cut the lake into two and one portion of the lake has been eaten up by encroachments. The Velachery Canal, running along the Bypass Road and Velachery Main Road, was formed mainly for discharging the additional water into the Pallikaranai Marsh. The open canal is being encroached upon by buildings and commercial establishments that choose to cover the canal with concrete slabs and create hurdles for regular maintenance work.

The western suburbs of Ambattur, Korattur, Kolathur, Valasaravakkam and Maduravoyal were some of the worst-affected areas due to the surplus water overflow from water bodies. Some of these localities still have water-logging.

Residents of Maduravoyal said the stormwater drain on the Alapakkam Main Road was unable to carry the heavy discharge from the Maduravoyal Lake and led to flooding in neighbouring areas of Nerkundram and Valasaravakkam. A Municipality official at Maduravoyal said that stagnant rain water in Kandaswamy Nagar was still being pumped out. A proposal to construct storm water drains worth Rs.2.5 crore has been prepared.

Funds awaited

Sevaral local bodies in the north of the city are waiting for funds to take up extensive drainage projects. At Kathivakkam, six areas were badly hit by rainwater stagnation and there is still stagnant rainwater in Kamaraj Nagar. Water drained off from Ulaganathapuram and Sathyavani Muthu Nagar only two days ago.

A. Murugavel, chairman of the municipality, about Rs. 40 lakh was required to ensure the correct gradient for stormwater drains recently built and the municipality has sought funds from the State government.

According to Tiruvottiyur Municipality Chairman R. Jayaraman, a Rs. 50 lakh scheme has been approved by the State government for storm water drains.

“However, we have no funds to connect the smaller drains to the big drains. As far as the roads are concerned, the municipality needs about Rs.5 crore to lay interior roads in about 30-40 localities south of Eranavoor Bridge,” he said.

Madipakkam resident and civic activist V. Subramani said that funds allotted to protect waterways were welcome.

Unless there were political will and concerted efforts on the part of government agencies, the problems would continue, he added.

(With inputs from Kannal Achuthan, Deepa H Ramakrishnan, K. Lakshmi and R. Srikanth)