Even as the core city gets submerged after every deluge during the monsoon, the Chennai Corporation is going ahead with integrated stormwater drain plans for the extended areas, for the Adyar and Cooum basins.
Officials of the Corporation admit the core city will continue to experience flooding, not just because of the flat terrain, but a slew of other issues.
“The drains have been ruptured by illegal sewage lines, and given that they are all masonry, they start leaking easily. Moreover, digging for utility lines like electricity, telephone and broadband cables has exacerbated the problem, causing silt deposits and clogging,” says a senior civic body official.
On Wednesday, the Corporation released an environment assessment report to implement better integrated stormwater drainage system for the Adyar and Cooum basins, under the World Bank-assisted Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Project (TNSUDP).
“We have worked on better designs. We are using precast lines that will not rupture despite pressure from utility and sewer lines. We are also incorporating rainwater harvesting structures in all of them,” the official says.
The work, projected to be taken up before the next financial year, will cover zones VII, XI and XII. “Areas such as Ambattur, Valsaravakkam, Porur, Nandambakkam and Adambakkam will be part of the project,” the official says. This will benefit industrial areas such as Ambattur SIDCO and perennially-deluged areas such as Korattur.
Proposals are on to complete 39 work packages, at an estimated cost of Rs. 949.21 crore. A drainage network in Cooum basin is proposed under 30 packages for a total length of 1,88,015 metres, costing Rs. 699.15 crore. Adyar basin work is proposed under nine packages for a length of 82,311 metres, at a cost of Rs. 250 crore. The model of the drains will be made by Anna University, according to the proposal, which details an environment management plan.
“There has been no major work taken up in these areas. We hope to get the clearance soon to start the work,” says the official.
