Government mulls canal route to tackle city floods
The state is in the process of chalking out a detailed project report for permanent mitigation of flash floods and inundation that affects Chennai and its extension areas.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-11-07 19:01 GMT
Chennai
The suggested flood carrier plan includes construction of new canals, diversification canals, and cut-andcover roads, among other measures. Sources said the decision was taken at a high-level meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, with senior ministers and state top brass attending it.
The CM has directed State Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) to provide necessary advisory to the Municipal Administration department for preparation of a detailed project report. An official said that the CM’s brief was to identify long-term solutions for area specific chronic flooding issues in Greater Chennai and its extension areas covering Pallikaranai and Ennore Creek. The proposed project report is expected to cause minimal impact on existing residential areas.
It would also have means and ways for land acquisition in terms of proposed new canals and diversion canals. Sources said Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan was intending to review this study in a time-bound manner in a bid to help shape up the project report.
When contacted, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management RB Udhayakumar said, “SDMA will be actively involved in removing bottle-necks faced during the time of disasters in the study which was being undertaken,” he said. Commissioner, Revenue Administration(CRA) K Satyagopal, confirmed that such an initiative was under way.
“An elaborate study on flood impact will be carried out. Based on the study, possible new canals and diversion canals would be identified. We might come short of land in some pockets of the city. We will propose cut-and-cover roads,” Satyagopal said.
ACTION PLANS
- New canals – These canals will carry flood either up to the sea or to the nearest waterway
- Diversion canals – These will help divert excess water from the existing canals and also from low-lying areas
- Cut-and-cover roads – Road will be cut open and covered after an underground canal is built. Traffic will be as usual on these roads while the flood will be carried by the underground canal
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