Stalin: Complete flood mitigation works before Oct end

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday inspected various mitigation works jointly executed by Greater Chennai Corporation, State Water Resources and Highways Departments in the city and instructed officials to complete the works before the end of October.

The Chief Minister’s instruction came in the backdrop of criticism pouring in from various quarters, mainly over the roads dug up for stormwater drain works in many parts of the city causing hindrance to motorists and pedestrians posing health threats to residents.

Accompanied by Irrigation Minister Duraimurugan and officials of the three departments, Stalin on Thursday morning inspected the works executed in Semmenchery, Nookkampakkam, Perumbakkam, Velachery, Pallikaranai and Adayar at an estimated cost of Rs 174.48 crore.

The stormwater drain and flood mitigation works in flooded areas were started following an inspection of the flood affected areas in Chennai and its suburbs by the Chief Minister during the Northeast monsoon last year. A statement issued by the government said that as an extension of the ongoing works, he inspected the construction of a head regulator in Madurapakkam Canal and a 500-metre long cut and cover macro drain in Semmenchery at a cost of Rs 21.70 crore.

The inspected works also include construction of a 1,900 metre long retaining wall in Semmenchery and Nookambakkam at Rs 24.30 crore, a 970 metre-long covered drain and flood regulators covering Nethaji Nagar main Road at Rs 29 crore, construction of a kilometer long drain from Thamaraikulam to NIOT on Velachery - Tambaram road at Rs 20 crore and similar works in Adayar, Indira Nagar, Kasturba Nagar and Velachery.