Spl teams formed to do monsoon works

“The zonal monitoring teams will comprise of five engineers. They will oversee preparedness in their respective zones,” G Prakash, Chennai Corporation Commissioner, said. He added that encroachment removal works along Cooum river is underway. Of the 15,000 families along the banks of the river, 13,500 have been evicted and provided accommodation in other places.

“All the families that are encroaching the river banks will be evicted within next six months and measures will be taken to prevent further encroachments,” he said.

He also explained that the stormwater drain project commenced in 2013 and new drains (2,500-kilometres long) have been taken up in the first phase. Works on 1,100 kilometres have been completed. “Construction of storm water drains in north Chennai has commenced at a cost of Rs 2,750 crore and all storm water projects will be completed in two years,” he assured. Speaking about Thursday’s rain, Prakash said the city received more than 20 cm rainfall in one day, which is the highest one-day rainfall recorded in October since 1969. As many as 18 vulnerable areas have been identified and CCTV cameras have been installed in those areas. Of the 57 locations, where waterlogging was reported, only nine places had water stagnation until Friday.