Chitlapakkam cut-and-cover drain project may be completed in a week

Mentioning how there is water stagnation even in the event of light rainfall, Vishwanath P, member of Chitlapakkam Residents Associations Coordination Committee, said, “As the PWD started the construction work, we expected they would complete the work (cut-and-cover drain project) by December and there won’t be stagnation during the recent rains. Now, the work is to be completed within a week. When there was heavy rain on Sunday, we found a crack, and the next day it was damaged, and the entire locality was flooded. Along with rainwater, even the flow from Sembakkam lake flooded the area.”

With the total length of the project being 865 metres, it connects to Sembakkam lake, resulting in the rainwater from the locality draining directly into the lake. The officials have reportedly completed 90 percent of the project work.

“We complained to the officials, but they still did not visit the place to see the situation the residents are facing. Already the work is delayed by the PWD. Though the work started a year ago, it remains incomplete. As they wanted to finish the work soon, the cut-and-cover they constructed were not strong enough, and so when the water gushed, it got damaged,” said Veeramani S, a resident of Chitlapakkam. When contacted on the damage, a PWD official said, “The water force was too strong and that is why it got damaged. We will fix it after the rainfall. The work will be completed by January.”