₹246-crore project to help prevent floods in Tambaram.

Residents of southern suburbs, especially Tambaram municipal areas, are likely to escape inundation during monsoon as a major flood mitigation project will soon be implemented.

The ₹246-crore project announced in the Assembly this session envisages improvement of waterbodies and channels in the area. It will be implemented by the Water Resources Department and the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration.

A detailed project report was recently prepared to improve the Pappan channel which carries surplus water to the Adyar river.

During the downpour in 2015, several areas, including Lakshmipuram, TTK Nagar and CTO Colony were badly affected. The stormwater drain network carried surplus water from areas such as Irumbuliyur and Peerkankaranai and also sewage.

Residents recalled that areas around Tambaram-Mudichur Road were flooded even during the monsoon last year as there was no outlet for the floodwater to drain. They alleged that surplus water course on Mudichur Road was closed to establish new layout.

D.S. Sairam, a resident of Kannan Avenue in west Tambaram, said that about 500 families were affected during the deluge in December 2015. “The stormwater channels should be widened to carry the excess water from Peerkankaranai and Irumbuliyur lakes. The Pappan channel should be improved to carry more floodwater as it would minimise the damage,” he said.

Sources with the Municipal Administration Department said that five packages on improvement works have been suggested to the Water Resources Department. The new proposals would envisage draining excess rainwater from east Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, and Mudichur into the Adyar river without any hassle.

The works to be taken up include construction of flood protection wall on the left side of Dhargas Road to link the Pappan channel with the Adyar and the construction of flood protection wall along the existing water courses such as those near Goodwill Nagar, Perungulathur, that is linked to the Adyar, sources said.

While admitting that unplanned development in adjacent areas had led to such issues, senior official said the measures being taken up would help in preventing floods.

Officials of the Water Resources Department said several encroachments were noticed on the water course near Goodwill Nagar, which carries floodwater from localities such as Bharathidasan Nagar and Moovendar Nagar. “We plan to construct retaining wall to define boundary, ensure free flow of water and prevent encroachments,” an official said.

As the Pappan channel was blocked, a channel will be constructed to divert to lead the floodwater that stagnates in Vetri Nagar, SRS Nagar and Jothi Nagar through Bharathinagar Main Road, Mudichur Road to existing water channel and the Adyar.

The department also plans to build flood diversion channel across Kishkinta Road and another channel on Chennai Bypass Service Road . Work would be taken up in a few months, the official added.

THE HINDU