In order to prevent waterlogging on roads after heavy rains and to harvest rainwater, Madurai Corporation is building rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures at 153 low-lying areas in the city.
Abandoned borewells and open wells across the four zones of the city are also revamped, where RWH structures are being erected by the Corporation.
The structures are constructed by digging to a depth of about five feet and inserting concrete rings and perforated pipes going as deep as 20 feet.
Stagnant water from roads will drain into the structure, which will also help in improving the groundwater level.
As on Tuesday, the structures have been constructed at 55 places along roads that are prone to flooding. The structures have been completed at low-lying places of T.P.K. Road, Rathinapuram, Tirupparankundram, Jeeva Nagar, Kovalan Nagar, Subramaniapuram, Iravathanallur and Tirunagar.
“These structures will address the main issue of waterlogging, which plagues city residents. The stagnant water will now be drained within 15 minutes,” said Corporation Commissioner S. Visakan.
The residents of Jaihindpuram have taken an initiative and have constructed RWH structures at eight places along the road. “Earlier, even after sinking borewells, which go as deep as 600 feet, water was not available. Now, after recent rains, two houses near the structure get around ten pots of water each day,” said T. Nagarajan, president of Jaihindpuram Residents’ Welfare Association.
A total of 508 abandoned borewells have been identified by the Corporation, and till Tuesday, RWH structures have been constructed near 85 borewells. “Since the drought borewells were ready for use, we just had to connect the structures with the borewells,” said Mr. Visakan.
A total of 12 open wells have been identified across four zones, where similar structures would be erected. “The work for the open wells will commence only after they are cleared of garbage,” said a Corporation official.
