Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Flood control measures taken up at Velachery

R. Srikanth

``Steps should minimise inundation during monsoon''

FLOOD BLOCK: The PWD has formed bunds to channelise the flow of rainwater into the Pallikaranai marsh land as part of monsoon preparation. — Photo : N. Sridharan

CHENNAI : The Public Works Department has launched a set of precautionary measures centred on Velachery, to strengthen monsoon preparedness.

The department has formed bunds starting from the MRTS culvert and has linked the bunds to the Kaiveli culvert to regulate the unrestricted flow of rainwater from Veerangal Odai into the Pallikaranai marshland.

Veerangal Odai is a canal originating from Nanganallur that flows through Adambakkam and Ullagaram-Puzhithivakkam before draining into the Pallikaranai Marshland. While Alandur Municipality has constructed a canal to channelise the flow of rainwater, the absence of a canal in the Ullagaram-Puzhithivakkam portion results in unchecked flow of rainwater into the marshland. As a consequence, residential areas situated along the Veerangal Odai are inundated during the rains.

The PWD has also formed bunds for the missing link between the Velachery Canal and the MRTS culvert. An official points out that the formation of these bunds would minimise inundation in Velachery. In addition, the completion of the Velachery Canal by the PWD has improved the situation. The Velachery Canal was constructed to direct the overflowing water from the Velachery Lake to the marshland.

While appreciating the efforts of the government, residents of Velachery point out that more measures may be required to ensure that Velachery remains flood-free. The absence of a channel at the Ullagaram-Puzhithivakkam portion is an issue that needs to be tackled urgently, they feel.

Exploitation

Residents also bemoan the exploitation of the ecologically fragile Pallikaranai Marshland and the backlash in the form of chronic flooding in Velachery.

The marshland, once a buffer zone for collection of rainwater from various sources, has been drastically reduced in size hindering the draining of rainwater.

But K. Swamiraj, a resident of Ullagaram-Puzhithivakkam, is optimistic that the situation can still be salvaged if certain measures are taken. He suggests that the PWD utilise the vast tract of land available between Muttukadu and Karapakkam Bridge for conversion into a pond. This will compensate for the loss of marshland space, he says. On the high tide problem, which impedes the flow of water from the Buckingham Canal into the sea during the rainy season, he says that once a sluice valve is installed at the point where Buckingham Canal drains into Muttukadu, seeping of seawater into the canal can be effectively checked.

Installing a high capacity pump to pump out water from the canal would be more effective, he said.

According to T. Anantharajan, a resident of Velachery, people might tolerate roads inundated with rainwater, but not stagnant pools of sewage-mixed water.

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