Adyar river, which was in spate during the torrential downpour last year, will be given priority in the monsoon preparedness project to be taken up shortly.
The city’s major waterways, clogged with weeds, may soon be clear as the Water Resources Department has sent a proposal to the State government seeking funds for dredging waterways running to a total distance of 100 km in and around the city and prevent flooding.
Every year, the Water Resources Department desilts major waterways and surplus channels of water bodies in and around the city ahead of the Northeast monsoon.
Normally, the government would sanction up to Rs. 4 crore towards desilting of waterways ahead of the monsoon. This year, additional funds have been sought to carry out the works in more stretches particularly in the 42-km Adyar river.
Sources in the department said besides the efforts to remove sand bars from Adyar and Cooum river mouths, works would be taken up to remove weeds and dredge the vulnerable portions of Adyar river from the origin near surplus channels of Adanur tank to the estuary. Some of the points identified include Jaffarkhanpet and Manapakkam.
Awaiting order
“We want to carry out the works much ahead of the monsoon this time and have sent estimates to the government. Usually, work is executed in September. This year, we hope to take up the work by mid-August once a government order is obtained,” said an official.
Besides the various stretches of Buckingham canal extending from Ennore to Muttukadu, Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal, Otteri Nullah, Okkiam Maduvu and Veerangal Odai would also be cleared of garbage and vegetation.
However, the stretch of Cooum river falling under city limits may not be included in the monsoon preparedness work as the waterway is being restored under the Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Plan.
Surplus channels of several tanks, including Manapakkam and Kolapakkam, Thanikachalam Nagar drain in Madhavaram, Pattaravakkam canal in Ambattur would also be cleared of obstructions. The work would be carried out till the end of December.
