Citizen Connect: Overgrown bushes and construction waste block Trust Puram canal, rile residents

Residents of Trust Puram in Kodambakkam are riled over the Greater Chennai Corporation’s indifference in removing unwanted vegetation and construction waste along the Trust Puram Canal.

The canal is one of the major storm water drains in the locality, which collects excess runoff water from the Kodambakkam, and runs along Puliyur First Main Road to pass through Reddykuppam before draining into Cooum River.

“The drain is poorly maintained with dense bushes abundantly grown along the canal. Especially near Vanniyar Street bridge, the canal has been almost covered by unwanted plants,” a shop owner, on the condition of anonymity, said.

He added that the thick bushes are attracting miscreants, who dump the construction waste and soil removed from elsewhere.

“If the place is maintained clean, people might hesitate to dump construction waste. As the place is already in a messy state, it emboldens them. Authorities should stop this,” the shop owner said.

Ramakrishnan, a private employee, who uses the road every day to commute between his office and residence in Trust Puram pointed out several damaged portions of the canal bunds. “There is a compound wall-like structure along the canal and the wall is damaged. This has become a threat to motorists. Street lights in the area become faulty frequently and motorists cannot see the damaged portion,” he said

Ramakrishnan added that the debris and soil dumped on the banks of the canal is adding to the silt during rain.

According to the residents, during the 2015 floods, Trust Puram area, starting from Arcot Road to the fifth street, was severely inundated, while another half of the Trust Puram, along the canal, was saved by the Trust Puram canal.

Meanwhile, the overgrown weeds had shrunken the canal by a considerable size, hindering water flow. The Chennai Corporation officials had cleared the canal a couple of years ago and they did not touch it afterward, according tothe residents.

Meanwhile, a Chennai Corporation official said that the civic body has taken up desilting works across the city and Trust Puram Canal would also be cleared. “The canal would remain dry most of the time and the plants started to sprout due to the flow of water after recent rains. Also, we will take measures to prevent dumping debris on the bank,” he added.