Activists urge Corpn not to construct on stormwater drains

CHENNAI: With the Greater Chennai Corporation demolishing a Amma Canteen, which was constructed encroaching upon a stormwater drain in KK Nagar, activists urge the civic body to stop constructing on the drains as they require frequent reconstruction and desilting.

"Around 20 days ago, the Chennai Corporation demolished a Amma Canteen in KK Nagar opposite ESI Hospital. The canteen was constructed some seven or eight years ago. Demolishing such a structure that was in good condition is waste of public money. It was demolished for stormwater drain construction works, "V Gopalakrishnan, an activist based in KK Nagar said.

It may be recalled that the civic body issued an order to close the Amma Canteen in July and shift the existing staff to other canteens.

Gopalakrishnan pointed out that several civic utilities are constructed on the stormwater drains across the city. "This is why we are continuously requesting the civic body not to construct on drains," he said.

Some Amma Canteens, several public toilets and EB facilities are constructed on the storm water drains which are being damaged during renovation and desilting of drains.

Meanwhile, some temples constructed on the drains in KK Nagar prevented desilting during the previous year's monsoon resulting heavy inundation in the locality. The civic body could not remove temple encroachments.