PWD lays concrete inner channels on rivers

It has been carried out as part of the various flood prevention measures initiated to ensure a safe monsoon this year in Chennai. According to the sources, the PWD has also taken up widening of Adyar and Cooum rivers at the points where the flow has narrowed down. 

M Bhakthavachalam, Superintending Engineer, PWD, Palar Basin Circle, Chennai Region, told DTNext that they were keen to take up water body related works before the monsoon sets in. 

“We have started taking up inner channel works from Paruthipattu area in Tiruvallur district to some parts of the city in the Cooum river. Though such channels were in place years ago, last year’s flood have ravaged them. So the urgent need to undertake the inner channel works again,” he said and added that the inner channels on the rivers were important, as they would be a pillar of support for the free flow of water. 

The SE said that inner channels would be formed by hardy stones and when there was a heavy flow of water in the rivers, silt and garbage would not be deposited. “In such a condition, there is no chance for stagnation of water and breaching of bunds,” he said and added that they would start works in the Adyar soon. Meanwhile, some PWD experts have raised doubts as to how far it would work. A Veerappan, former Special Chief Engineer, Chennai region, said “such inner channel works will not serve the purpose, when there is a heavy flow of water.” 

“Officials must not waste money in the name of flood preparatory works,” he said and suggested that big pipelines along the rivers instead of inner channels will be better option.