GCC desilts Stormwater drains culverts under major junctions

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the exercise was done in at least 10 major junctions where culverts are present, including Anna Main Road-Jawaharlal Nehru Road junction in Ashok Nagar.

“Similar works are underway in T Nagar and other areas. Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi inspected the works on Wednesday. This is part of the preparations for the forecasted heavy rain on Thursday,” the official said.

The failure to desilt the culvert under the Anna Main Road-Jawaharlal Nehru Road junction led to severe inundation, which resulted in flooding in other major roads such as Rajamannar Road and Kamarajar Road in KK Nagar. This was despite the junction’s proximity to Adyar river.

“A meeting was held at the Ripon Building on Tuesday night to discuss the prevention of waterlogging on Thursday. At the meeting, instructions have been given to mobilise men and machines to vulnerable areas before the rains start. The focus is on 500 locations where inundation was reported this past week. More than 20 locations will have high power pumps,” the official said.

Also, workers have been instructed to pump out water as soon as water pools and not wait for the rain to stop.