With work on stormwater drains facing roadblocks in many stretches, the Chennai Corporation had started to rely on rainwater harvesting structures to prevent inundation.
However, the work on commissioning such structures in parks, playgrounds, Corporation buildings, schools and temples is way behind schedule.
Many residents’ associations in areas such as Besant Nagar, Mylapore, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur sent requests to the civic body to design suitable structures that prevent inundation and recharge groundwater. So, the Chennai Corporation commenced the construction of rainwater harvesting structures measuring four metres in diameter on roads also.
After the Mayor announced that rainwater harvesting structures would be commissioned across the city, the Corporation identified a total of 4,682 structures including 2,932 buildings, 634 schools, 1,075 parks and playgrounds and 41 temples for rainwater harvesting.
But once again, like the work on stormwater drains, the structures are unlikely to be completed before the onset of the northeast monsoon.
As many as 2,331 such structures are yet to be completed. With just around 130 structures being commissioned every week, the Corporation may be able to complete the work only after the monsoon.
The work on the construction of rainwater harvesting structures in stormwater drains by the Chennai Corporation was expected to begin in May last year.
The structures would consist of a borewell pipe, sand and blue metal. The pipe would reach the sandy area below ground level and the civic body is taking the assistance of the Chennai Metrowater to know the water table and the kind of soil in each area. The structures may not be effective in tackling inundation in areas with clayey soil such as Anna Nagar and Velachery.
