Storm water drain openings marked in yellow

Learning a few lessons from the December deluge, the Greater Chennai Corporation formulated a mechanism to help the workers to easily identify storm water drains and openings with a dash of yellow marking in the city. 

Corporation officials said that the opening in the storm water drain networks will be marked with yellow paint, so that the corporation staff can easily identify them during heavy rain and attend to blockages if the rainwater stagnates on the road. 

“As the possibility of waste choking the storm water drain inlets are high leading to stagnation of water on certain roads, the yellow mark on the openings will help the workers to clear them on a priority basis to ensure smooth flow of rain water,” an official said. 

“The marking work have commenced in the areas in North Chennai and all the vulnerable storm water drain openings will be covered first,” the official said.

Another official said that “We received a flurry of complaints last year in connection with the storm water drains. Now that most of the system are completed in the city, we are ready to tackle any eventuality during the ensuing monsoon.”

M Nagarajan, a resident of Virugambakkam said, “Water stagnation on several arterial and main roads hinder traffic movement. Improper drainage system is the main reason for the problem during rain.” 

A Veerappan, former special chief engineer, PWD, Chennai region, said “though it is a good concept, officials should monitor the storm water collection points whenever there is heavy rain. Further, regular maintenance works on storm water drains should be carried out after routine inspection.”