Materials dumped near culverts raise flood risk

Residents said that the rainwater from areas such as Bharani Street, Udhayam Nagar, Tansi Nagar, Annai IndiraGandhi Nagar, Balamurugan Nagar, Bhuvaneshwari Nagar and VGP Selva Nagar flows through the six culverts into the marshland.

“The Railways have undertaken the construction of a bridge and materials such as sand and bricks have dumped been dumped in the path of water. This accumulation will affect the free flow of rainwater and it will lead to a flood in the area when it rains. We have filed a complaint with the Corporation officials and they have promised action,” said M Balakrishnan, General Secretary, Tansi Nagar Welfare Association. The bridge construction started two months ago and it will not be completed before the monsoon. “We faced a similar issue earlier when a new building was blocking the culverts. But it was demolished after a complaint was lodged. If the construction materials are not removed before monsoon, we will have to face the wrath of the flood,” said Sivashankar R, a resident near Perungudi railway station.

Speaking to DT Next, Murali, Executive Engineer, Greater Chennai Corporation said, “ We have given a notice to the Railways. If there is no response from them, we will soon remove the materials.”