Coimbatore stormwater drains are facing renewed flood concerns after clogged and inadequately desilted channels reportedly caused sewage water to enter homes in several neighbourhoods, including areas occupied by economically weaker families. MDMK councillor Chithra Vellingiri of ward 26 has urged the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation to begin immediate cleaning and desilting work.
In a statement addressed to the corporation commissioner, Vellingiri alleged that several stormwater drains had not been cleaned properly and remained blocked with soil and silt. She said the corporation should have completed the work before the northeast monsoon began.
The councillor told the Times of India that workers were deployed on Pioneer Mills Road on Monday morning after residents complained of overflow the previous night. However, she said the silt could not be removed immediately because it was still wet. According to her, the material could wash back into the drain during the next spell of rain if it is not cleared after drying.
Vellingiri also identified Ellai Thottam Road and V K Road as areas that had faced similar problems during the past week following heavy rainfall. She said the issue extended beyond ward 26 and affected parts of Ukkadam, Podanur, Kuniyamuthur and surrounding areas.
The reported sequence highlights the operational difficulty faced by municipal authorities when drain maintenance is delayed until after rainfall and overflow have already occurred. Wet silt can be harder to remove, while uncleared material can reduce the capacity of drains during subsequent rain. The report, however, does not specify the total length of drains requiring desilting, the number of homes affected or the corporation’s overall cleaning schedule.
Sewage entering homes also raises a sanitation concern in addition to the immediate risk of waterlogging. The affected locations include areas where residents may have fewer resources to manage repeated flooding, clean contaminated premises or temporarily relocate during heavy rain.
The councillor’s complaint places responsibility for the next response with the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation. The corporation has been urged to clear the accumulated soil and silt, address overflow points and complete desilting before further rainfall. No response from the corporation commissioner was included in the report.
The immediate administrative milestone is the corporation’s response to the written request and its action on the identified roads and neighbourhoods. The effectiveness of the work will depend on whether the removed silt is cleared before the next rainfall and whether the wider areas named in the complaint receive inspection and maintenance.
