GCC Commissioner directs officials to finish stormwater drain works by August

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner GS Sameeran on Saturday directed civic officials to complete all ongoing stormwater drain works by August and clear blockages where waterways join the Adyar River. The instructions were issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Ripon Buildings with senior corporation and zonal officials to assess the city's monsoon preparedness.

The commissioner set the strict August deadline for the completion of the stormwater drain (SWD) projects, aiming to finish the critical infrastructure work months ahead of the upcoming northeast monsoon. During the review meeting, Sameeran instructed officials to prioritise connecting all missing links within the SWD network to ensure seamless water flow and prevent urban flooding.

Desilting operations have already commenced across the city as part of the preparedness measures. According to civic data, workers have successfully desilted 36,982 silt catch pits so far, which has resulted in the removal of over 1,849.10 metric tonnes of accumulated silt from the drainage system.

In addition to the drain network, the commissioner ordered officials to intensify desilting operations across all 44 canals maintained by the civic body. Sameeran emphasised that the construction of flood-retaining walls must be completed on a priority basis to protect surrounding neighborhoods from inundation.

During the meeting, Sameeran specifically reviewed the progress of ongoing improvement works along major waterways. These included the Virugambakkam Canal, Otteri Nullah, and Veerangal Odai, among other major canals in the city.

To prevent waterlogging, the commissioner instructed officials to clear blockages at critical junctions. This includes the points where stormwater drains discharge into canals, as well as the key locations where these canals empty into the Adyar River, the Cooum River, and the Buckingham Canal.