Chennai’s flood preparedness has come under scrutiny after senior Water Resources Department officials and engineers were reportedly absent from their assigned districts during the northeast monsoon, according to a report by Dinamalar. The report said several officials travelled to their hometowns during the Ayudha Puja holiday period, raising concerns about coordination and supervision of flood-mitigation works.
The Water Resources Department is responsible for maintaining key waterways in and around Chennai, including the Adyar, Cooum and Buckingham Canal, as well as the Kosasthalaiyar river. During the monsoon, desilting and related works are undertaken to ensure that stormwater can flow through these channels without obstruction.
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹40 crore for this year’s desilting work, the report said. However, complaints have emerged that the work was not carried out adequately and that blockages at the waterways’ outlets were not properly removed. These concerns have gained attention after heavy rain on the 17th caused floodwater to spread across major roads and residential areas in Chennai.
According to the report, several residents were unable to return home after the rain because of flooding. It also cited complaints that better desilting and the removal of obstructions at the waterways’ outlets could have helped floodwater drain more quickly. The report did not provide an official response from the department on the quality of the work or the allegations concerning staff absence.
The department has a designated chain of responsibility for monitoring these works. Assistant engineers, assistant executive engineers and executive engineers are assigned to individual waterways, while senior officials including the chief engineer, regional chief engineer and supervising engineers are expected to provide guidance and oversight.
The report said that officials are required to remain in the districts where they are posted during the monsoon season. Their absence, it added, affected coordination with contractors responsible for carrying out the works. Similar concerns were reported in Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Tiruchirappalli districts.
The reported absence has prompted questions about how monsoon duties are enforced and how quickly responsibility can be established when flood-prevention works are delayed or inadequately supervised. The issue is particularly important for Chennai, where the performance of rivers, canals and outlet points directly affects the speed at which rainwater leaves roads and neighbourhoods.
Dinamalar reported that the government needs to ensure the presence and participation of Water Resources Department officials and engineers in northeast monsoon preparedness activities. The department’s response to the complaints, along with details of the completed desilting works and monitoring arrangements, remains to be established.
