The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Industrial estates inundated

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Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Industrial estates inundated

K. Lakshmi and Deepa H Ramakrishnan

Problem is lack of stormwater drain network

Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

Under water: The Third Main Road in Ambattur Industrial Estate on Wednesday. —

CHENNAI: The steady downpour over the past couple of days has left various industrial estates in and around the city inundated, threatening to hit production in several units.

A common problem for the water-logged estates is the lack of stormwater drain network to channelise the rainwater to the nearest water body.

Inadequate monsoon preparedness on part of the authorities concerned also came to the fore as it was evident in the Ambattur Industrial Estate, where the north phase was inundated by surplus water from the Ambattur Lake. With rainwater entering a few units, it was difficult to operate them.

With most of units remaining closed on Wednesday in response to a strike call by the Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association against frequent power cuts, the impact of the rain was not felt by the workers.

Unit holders in Ambattur Estate said the Third Main Road and its bylanes were the worst affected as the stretches were water logged in the absence of proper outlets. The stormwater drain network has been blocked for over a year on Third Main Road owing to work on the elevated corridor component of the Chennai bypass project. They complained that it was a perennial problem every monsoon and the same areas were affected, which could be avoided with proper planning.

Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Association Secretary S. Chandrasekaran said that though the Ambattur Municipality and the Water Resources Department took steps to bale out rainwater, the areas continued to be submerged in ankle-deep water as there was no proper channel to drain the water.

President of Mogappair Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Association V. Rajappan said that bylanes of Reddipalayam Road in Mogappair West were flooded with sewage mixed rainwater. “We are already suffering a production loss of 30 per cent owing to load shedding and restrictions to operate during evening peak hours.”

Perungudi Industrial Manufacturers’ Association president Noor Saied said that several interior roads in the Perungudi Industrial Estate were submerged on Wednesday . The existing stormwater drain network was unable to take the additional load.

At Guindy Industrial Estate, the road-laying work had been completed only in portions. K. Gopalakrishnan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association, said that there were no takers for tenders for road laying work in the north phase. This has led to water stagnation on the battered roads. The stormwater drain network laying work was also yet to be completed.

Thirumazhisai Industrial Estate Manufacturers’ Association Secretary V. Venkatesh said the estate also faced the threat of flooding as there was no connecting channel to carry rainwater to Chembarambakkam lake.

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