4 years on, integrated storm water drain project in limbo

Corporation sources said that while work on constructing a network of drains in the Adyar-Cooum basin is facing a last-minute hurdle, despite 90 per cent work being completed, the project in the other two basins is still on the drawing board. 

The civic body had undertaken the ISWD project to ensure flooding is prevented in the city’s extended areas during the monsoon season. This will involve the construction of collector drains, feeder drains, arterial drains and macro and major micro canals. 

At present, only the work on Adyar-Cooum basin is nearing completion. However, it too is facing a last-minute hurdle. The Corporation’s deadline of February this year for the 292-km of Adyar-Cooum basin, taken up at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, has been long past. 

When asked about the delay, a senior Corporation official said, “While 90 per cent of the work has been completed, we are now in the process of connecting some of the drains with the canals in Padikuppam and Nolambur. The lining of the canals, which prevents water seepage, is a time-consuming exercise that hasn’t been done. The idea is to complete this before the onset of the monsoon.” 

As far as the estimated Rs 1,784.54 crore project for the 429km long Kosasthalaiyar basin is concerned, the civic body is yet to tie-up with a funding agency. 

Recently, Municipal Administration minister SP Velumani had requested Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to allocate funds, through Niti Aayog. The Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of the 360-km of Kovalam basin phase, divided into three stages (M1, M2 and M3), are yet being scrutinised. 

“While the M3 is in the advanced level getting funds from the German Development Bank (KfW), the DPR for the other two stages is being fine-tuned along with KfW. 

Following this, funding and tendering will happen,” said the official.