Rs 270 cr tender for SWD to mitigate flooding along ECR

A Chennai Corporation official said that the German Development Bank has agreed to provide Rs 1,243 crore to constructintegrated stormwater drains (ISWD) in Kovalam Basin. “The Kovalam Basin has been segregated into M1, M2 and M3. We have completed detailed project report (DPR) for M3 and the German Development Bank, Central government and State government have accorded approvals,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation has floated tenders in various packages ranging from Rs 15 crore to Rs 35 crore to build drains extending to 52.5 km to mitigate inundation in Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, Uthandi and Sholinganallur. In total, the Kovalam Basin would have 360-km long stormwater drain network.

The tenders will be opened on January 21 and the works would start soon after the contractors are selected. The stormwater drains would drain the rainwater directly into the sea.

“Taking funds from foreign funding agencies is a cumbersome process as we have to submit reports during every development. Once the works start, the German Development Bank will conduct a periodic inspection of the progress of the work. So there will be no discrepancies in implementing the project,” the official said.

Although the Corporation officials managed to find afunding agency for Kovalam Basin, they are running from pillar to post to get fundsfor the integrated stormwater drains in KosasthalaiyarBasin to alleviate flooding in North Chennai.

It is learnt that the Chennai Corporation’s proposal seeking funds for Kosasthalaiyar Basin was rejected by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). “We have decided to approach ADB again for the funding,” the official said.

The 429 km long and Rs 1,729 crore worth integrated stormwater drains network is a part of Rs 4,034 crore project announced in the State assembly.