NE monsoon: Mayor instructs officials to fast-track flood mitigation projects

Chennai: Mayor R Priya on Thursday inspected the flood preparation work in Perambur, Jamalia, and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, and instructed officials to fast-track the projects before the north-east monsoon sets in. The mayor inspected the Perambur subway, which was inundated during the rain on Wednesday night, and urged officials to fast-track work in the motor room.
She then inspected the Ekangipuram canal near Konnur High Road and instructed officials to desilt it by the weekend. She checked the silt catch pit cleaning work in Jamalia and Perambur and also reviewed the work done by railways for flood management. GCC recorded 76.8mm of rain across the city, with three areas, Ambattur, Ayapakkam, and Anna Nagar, recording more than 100mm. Ayapakkam recorded the highest at 134mm.
While seven subways, including Manickam Nagar subway, MC Road subway near Stanley Hospital, Perambur High Road subway, Villivakkam Subway, and Duraisamy subway, faced water stagnation, GCC said these were cleared by midnight. Nine fallen trees were also cleared. The corporation on Thursday also initiated desilting works at the Gandhi Canal from Otteri Nullah to Pulianthope High, cleaning 831 metres and 2,947 cubic metres of silt.
This will prevent flooding in areas around Pulianthope such as Decaster Road and Demellows Road. The corporation also released before and after photos of flooded localities, particularly Sathyamurthy Bhavan area, Tana Street of Purasaiwakkam, and Perambur subway.
GCC officials said they are monitoring the inundated spots live from their control room and urge residents to call 1913 for rain-related grievances.