Chennai Corporation will develop an early flood warning system for the city to cope with challenges associated with the north east monsoon. A team of officials will visit Mumbai and cities in Telangana to study the early flood warning system shortly.
Once the system is commissioned, issuing early flood warning will be possible to prevent loss of lives and property along the Cooum, Adyar, Kosasthalaiyar or the Buckingham Canal.
More than 7 lakh buildings are estimated to be located in areas prone to flooding along waterbodies.
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A decision on commissioning Real Time Decision Support System may also be taken after a study by Anna University.
The hydrology project is also expected to allow the civic body forecast likely rainfall in the catchment area, enabling it to warn line agencies to take measures and avert human and property loss by regulation of release of excess water.
Currently, there is always a danger of flooding in downstream areas of waterways and in 130 waterbodies as the city does not have any system to forecast how much water will flow in each neighbourhood.
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“With the help of the new system, we may be able to issue warning in advance to take measures in downstream areas when water is released,” an official said.
Decision on installing data acquisition system stations comprising automatic rain gauge, automatic climate stations and water level recorders in the catchment areas may be taken based on advice by Anna University.
“Chennai has topography with a different gradient when compared to other cities. The early flood warning system should be developed after studying the drainage system and developing a mechanism to drain the water. Interconnecting waterbodies will be crucial. It is yet to be done,” said N.Mathavan, a disaster management expert.