The Greater Chennai Corporation has intensified Chennai monsoon preparedness in North Chennai, reviewing stormwater drain, canal and water-body works along with emergency equipment and relief arrangements in the Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar and Royapuram zones. The review meeting was held on Wednesday and chaired by Health Minister K.G. Arunraj, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle.
In Royapuram, stormwater drain works have been taken up along a total length of 1.16 km. Of this, 474 metres have been completed, while work is under way on another 413 metres. Desilting has also been completed in 2,251 silt-catching chambers during the second phase of the programme, with work continuing at the remaining locations.
The Corporation has taken up restoration work on 33 water bodies in Royapuram, of which 26 have been completed. Pumps, earth-moving equipment and other machinery have been kept ready at five subways and flood-prone locations in the zone. The civic body has also prepared 13 relief centres and two centralised kitchens for emergency response.
In the Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zone, 8.935 km of stormwater drain work has been completed out of a total 10.376 km. Work remains under way on the balance 1.441 km. Canal improvement works have been completed along 910 metres of a 1.04-km stretch, leaving approximately 130 metres to be completed.
Desilting work in the zone has covered 3,722 of its 8,258 silt-catching chambers, while work is continuing in another 1,592 chambers. The Corporation has also completed desilting of stormwater drains along 61.60 km, with work continuing on a further 5.99 km.
The zone has 51 motor pumps ready for deployment in low-lying areas, along with trucks, Bobcats, JCBs, tree-cutting machines and other equipment. Nineteen relief centres, 15 central kitchens and three kitchens for schoolchildren have also been prepared in Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar.
The preparations cover both physical infrastructure and emergency response capacity. Drain and canal works are still incomplete in both zones, while desilting continues across a substantial number of silt-catching chambers. The equipment and relief facilities are intended to support operations at low-lying, flood-prone and transport-linked locations during periods of heavy rain.
The minister directed officials to intensify precautionary measures and complete the pending works by September. The Greater Chennai Corporation’s next stated milestone is the completion of the remaining drainage, canal, desilting and related preparedness works within that deadline.
