CHENNAI: The Public Works Department and the Chennai Corporation will take up an extensive clean up of the city's waterways, drains and canals at a cost of Rs. 12 crore in preparation for the north-east monsoon due this October.

The decision was taken at a `monsoon preparedness' meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday chaired by Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin and Public Works Department Minister K. Ponmudi. (Mr. Ponmudi is holding the PWD portfolio temporarily in place of Durai Murugan who is convalescing after surgery.)

10-point programme

Senior officials from various State Government departments and the Meteorological Department attended the meeting.

According to a press release issued by the Chennai Corporation, the Government has worked out a 10-point programme with the primary objective of preventing inundation of low-lying areas and ensuring quick drainage of water. The PWD and Corporation will take up desilting and widening of the major waterways and canals at a cost of Rs. 12 crore. The works are to be completed by September 15. The north-east monsoon sets in around the second week of October.

Widening and desilting

The government agencies will also take up the widening and desilting of river mouths, which are the final draining points for the waterways. Following last year's torrential rains, government agencies had to take up similar efforts after the floods.

The low-level areas have already been listed. Government agencies have been asked to identify schools and community halls where the residents of the low-level areas could be accommodated.

Kitchens will be on the stand-by to serve food to the residents at times of floods.

Officials have been asked to hire pumpsets to use at subways, Metrowater pumping stations and other inundation-prone areas.

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