No More Fear Of Flood, Thrilled Chennai Residents

On account of the arrival of North East (NE) monsoon, Chennai Corporation has started the repair works of sewage canals at lightning speed. Heavy rain in Karnataka last year, led to the residents expressing their dismay on twitter that Karnataka CM did not take measures like Tamil Nadu CM.

In 2021, there was no stagnation of water in Chennai due to the tireless efforts of the authorities but that didn't stop BJP State President Annamalai from taking a boat ride in Kolathur water. What Annamalai did for political gain, later became a laughing stock. During the previous ADMK government, Chennai was submerged in the waters of Chembarambakkam lake.

To avoid the repetition of such a situation, CM Stalin revolutionised the functioning of the Chennai administration. Unlike the previous governments which concentrated mainly on areas like Poes garden, DMK government uniformly drained water from all areas including T. Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Velachery, Royapuram, Mandaveli and Vyasarpadi.

With the experience from last year, CM Stalin and the authorities are now in standby mode after making all the precautionary arrangements to deal with the current year's rains.

According to Minister Nehru's statement, 2000 metro water workers are ready to deal with the rains; 1000 crore has been allotted to carry out works to prevent the mixing of potable and sewage water and 98% rainwater drainage works have been completed in Chennai.

CM Stalin's encouraging post in Twitter about the flood prevention works said, "Times have changed for the better after DMK assumed power. On account of the tremendous efforts taken by the Stalin government, flood related fears in Chennai are no more. The impact of the heavy rains has been prevented from affecting the people by dredging the water bodies and constructing 876 km long water drains.

Considering the warning given by the weather forecasters for heavy rain in the next few days, all ministers, local government representatives, higher officials and the employees of the metropolitan corporation are directed to work in the field to support the people in need. Together let us strengthen the belief that #Dravidian Model government will prevent even the slightest disturbance to the people of Tamil Nadu."

Storm water drainage works in Chennai have been carried out in 2 phases. In the month of July, 1359.79 km long storm water drainage work in 6720 places was started and scheduled to be completed before the onset of monsoon.

To be precise, 33 canals with a length of 53.42 km are being maintained in the Chennai Corporation in which floating scum, silt and other suspended particles are removed using modern machinery. According to the Minister for Municipal Administration Nehru, 90% works had been completed in the month of July.

To carry out the precautionary measures for the monsoon, IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officers are appointed as monitoring officers for 15 zones in the areas under the control of Chennai Corporation. Beyond the higher officials, 23000 workers are in standby mode and 169 centres are kept ready in Chennai alone to carry out the drainage works.

As per the data from Chennai Corporation, a group containing JCPs; trucks; lorries, sawing machines; generators; heavy and light vehicles; 2619 battery operated vehicle drivers; 1019 standby vehicles; 3908 cleaners; 318 drivers and 922 other workers are ready to make Chennai green and clean.

Despite all the precautions, if a flood occurs in a place, arrangements have been made for the public to report the situation by calling the toll-free number 1913 which will be connected to a 24/7 functioning control room. A notice has been published by the Chennai Corporation to cancel the contract of institutions in case of incomplete sewage works in Chennai.

The pictures of Minister Nehru working diligently in one of the drainage stations regardless of the rain has been uploaded in Twitter. Along with Minister Nehru, Minister Ma. Subramanian, Mayor Priya and Radhakrishnan IAS are working 24*7. For the past few weeks, disease prevention camps set up by Chennai Corporation have been actively functioning to prevent the monsoon related communicable diseases.

Greater Chennai Corporation Twitter page has posted pictures of the previous and current condition of Alagappa road in Chennai to compare the situation. The current Alagappa road is in pristine condition compared to the previous one which was filled with sewage water. Another picture depicted the working of a machinery to remove the stagnant water from Woods Road area.

Other areas in which water stagnation was not seen include Saidapet Aranganathan subway, Guindy etc. As CM Stalin rightly said, the time of fear of flood and panic has gone.

This is the Dravidian model government which guarantees peace for the public.