Begin typing your search...

Chennai streets without stormwater drains witness water stagnation

During the summer season this year, the city continues to experience intense rainfall.

Chennai streets without stormwater drains witness water stagnation
X

CHENNAI: As heavy rain lashed Chennai in the wee hours on Monday, several areas without stormwater drains witnessed water stagnation. Residents fear that the situation may worsen during the monsoon season, and some have decided to vacate, fearing inundation even this year.

"For over a decade, there has been no relief from inundation during the rainy days. The rainwater enters the house and only after two months does it drain. It has become a mosquito breeding ground, which has led to various health issues. Earlier, only between October and December, the street witnessed water stagnation," said P Krishnakanth, a resident of Lakshmi Nagar first street in Madipakkam.

During the summer season this year, the city continues to experience intense rainfall. And the road was flooded. There is no SWD in the street, the major reason for stagnation. Local residents stated that nearby streets on SWD did not witness flooding.

"Though multiple complaints were raised by the Chief Minister cell and Chennai Corporation, they stated that it would be constructed in the financial year. But there was no action taken till date," complained Krishnakanth.

The Northeast monsoon is likely to begin at the end of the month and residents have already decided to shift fearing water stagnation like in previous years. Though the civic body authorities pump out the flooded rainwater from the apartments, residents stated that the road had been flooded.

Almost all the streets in Velachery have SWD except Tansi Nagar 1,3 and 14 streets, and Church Gate Avenue experience water stagnation even during a mild rain.

"We have filed several petitions and complaints to the local body authorities. The officials inspected the place but no action or plans were implemented to construct SWD," said M Balakrishnan, a resident of Tansi Nagar, Velachery.

He added that the motor pumps do not have enough capacity to drain the stagnated rainwater in the locality. Also, as the drain is not linked to the water bodies, the pumped out water remains pooled on the road.

A senior official with Greater Chennai Corporation stated that the SWD work was constructed based on the impacted areas during the NE monsoon last year. The drains are not built in the interior or small streets in the city.

"If streets witness inundation, the water will be pumped out to the arterial road. The Zonal level officials are taking care of the situation," said the official.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android

DTNEXT Bureau
Next Story