On Monday, the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, alongside the Mayor of Chennai, conducted a thorough inspection of flood mitigation efforts and ongoing development projects under the ‘Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam’ (North Chennai Development Plan). Their visit focused on reviewing the preparedness for the Northeast monsoon and the execution of various infrastructure projects. The inspection included an assessment of advanced machinery being deployed to enhance flood control and urban development in the region.
The Mayor’s inspection highlighted the use of Robotic Multi-Purpose Excavators for the cleaning of the Padi and Gandhi Nagar drains. She noted that the Greater Chennai Corporation has invested ₹22.80 crore in procuring two additional excavators designed to clear water hyacinth, waste, and silt from the city’s waterbodies. In addition, a rented machine from Gujarat is currently working on silt removal in the Captain Cotton canal. The civic body’s monsoon readiness also includes two amphibian vehicles, three mini amphibian machines, seven high-capacity water-suction jetting machines with recycling capabilities, and nine hydraulic tree-cutting machines.
The Minister reviewed significant projects overseen by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), including the ₹6.26 crore upgrade of Kolathur Lake, a new ₹12 crore dialysis centre in Kolathur, and a ₹2.5 crore co-working space. Additionally, the state government is progressing with the construction of 700 high-rise apartments in Adyar and 504 apartments in George Town. The officials inspected desilting operations in various wards, including areas near the Adyar River and Perungudi zone, utilising mini amphibian machines and robotic excavators. The inspection was attended by key officials from the Housing and Urban Development Department, CMDA, and Greater Chennai Corporation, among others.
