The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Corpn. takes up flood prevention measures

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Saturday, Jul 10, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Corpn. takes up flood prevention measures

Special Correspondent

Silt and garbage to be removed from storm water drains

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Corporation has planned elaborate measures to prevent water-logging on roads and underpasses and flooding of colonies in case of breach of canal bunds during the South West Monsoon.

With signs of rain in the city, the Corporation is putting in place measures ranging from motors for pumping water from roads and underpasses to stocking sandbags near breach-prone points along Sanganur Canal.

But, the first task the Corporation has planned to carry out is the removal of silt and garbage from storm water drains.

The major drains on Brooke Bond Road and Goods Shed Road will be covered first.

Water-logging on Brooke Bond Road will lead to a frustrating traffic hold up on the Avanashi Road Flyover. The underpasses at the flyover too are vulnerable points.

Motors will be available in the underpasses at this flyover and the one at North Coimbatore to pump out water.

A similar arrangement will be made at underpasses below rail over bridges such as the one at Lanka Corner near the Coimbatore Railway Junction.

The Corporation will provide generators at these points to ensure that pumping is not affected by disruption in power supply.

Four lorries fitted with motors will also be pressed into service to pump rain water from these areas and also another flooded point in the city.

The civic body has done a stock-taking across the city to know which the areas that require help during heavy rain are. De-flooding measures will be put in place accordingly.

As many as 500 sandbags will be kept ready near each of the points in the Sanganur Canal bund that have been identified as breach-prone, based on previous instances.

Teams

Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra says the Corporation's Rapid Response Teams will move around the city to tackle emergencies.

Each of the four zones in the city has a team, headed by a zonal sanitary officer and consisting of 10 workers.

They will clear trees uprooted by gusty winds or soil erosion triggered by heavy rain and remove blocks in drains that cause flooding.

“These teams did a good job during monsoon last year, responding to calls for pumping out flood water and other relief measures,” the Commissioner says.

“The task is not very huge in Coimbatore city as there is no heavy rain and flooding. Only some low-lying areas get inundated. Since we know where these are located and how things will turn out during heavy rain, our response will be quick,” he says.

Battery-operated saws will be used to cut the trees so that restoration of traffic on roads is not held up by power supply disruption.

Electricians of the Corporation will co-ordinate with those in the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board in case of damage to power lines and poles.

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