Two years after deluge, no major changes on ground

Heavy rains at Chennai and its suburbs on late Thursday for several hours affected normalcy and many streets were water-logged, bringing back memories of the city and its suburbs sinking in 2015.

Residents of suburban residential localities like Mudichur and Tambaram, Chitalapakkam and Old perungalathur said water had stagnated on their streets. “The rain was heavy for several hours in the early morning, and the water has flooded our streets” said John a resident of Old Perungalathur. “They have constructed the drainage, but none of it has been connected properly, which is why we are facing this issue” claimed Andrew a resident of Mudichur.

Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder, Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), said people’s reaction depends on the location. “People in Mudichur are still scared of the rain, while farmers in Tirupporur are desperate for rain. People in Adyar do not care if it rains or not, but those living in Kotturpuram are desperate for rains, to solve the drinking water scarcity,” he said, adding that the government response has been proactive.

Commenting on the government’s encroachment removal drives, activist Nityanand Jayaraman, “We are as vulnerable now as we were in 2015. The encroachment removal is minor. The government doesn’t have the courage, desire or political will to make the big changes. Look at the encroachment in Ennore and it is clear that the officials don’t have an understanding of what environment or nature is,” he added. Jayshree Vencatesan, managing trustee of Care Earth Trust, said that mere restoration of waterbodies is no longer sufficient. “We have tampered with the topology so much that the damage is irreversible. We need a blend of restoration and innovative, locality-specific interventions,” she added.