Chitlapakkam residents urge to begin 2nd phase of cut-and-cover work

The second phase of the work was to be started on January 15 but has been postponed to February end. The work would cover around 500 metres in Chitlapakkam. As part of the second phase work, the PWD would be desilting and restoring the Chitlapakkam and Sembakkam lake and stop letting sewage into the lake.

“Last year, if the construction was completed before the northeast monsoon, we would not have faced the water stagnation in our area. But as they took more than two years to finish the work, we suffered a lot during December. We want the officials to start the second phase work now, only then by this monsoon we would not have to face a similar situation,” said Vishwanath P, convener of Chitlapakkam Residents Associations Coordination Committee.

In the first phase, the work covered a total length of 865 metres, which connects to Sembakkam lake and the rainwater that drains from the locality would go directly into the lake.

“The official inspected the place in August 2019 and said that they would start the work by December, which was postponed to January and later again. Only if they start the work now, they would be able to complete the work by this monsoon and there would not be water stagnation,” said Srinivas M, a resident of Chitlapakkam. When contacted, a senior PWD official said, “The total cost for the second phase cut and cover construction is Rs 25 crore. The work is expected to start in February end and it is to be completedin six months.”