Some southern suburbs may face less inundation this year, as works to improve surplus courses of various water bodies are in full swing.
The long-neglected Meenambakkam drain is being restored to regain its original flood-carrying capacity of 1,150 cubic feet per second (cusecs). Originating from Tirusulam, the drain runs for 2.2 km before joining the Adyar river upstream of Chennai airport’s runway.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) is implementing the ₹ 1.98 crore project to restore the drain and mitigate flooding in localities such as Pallavaram cantonment and Cowl Bazaar. Officials said the canal had become heavily silted and lost defined banks in stretches behind the airport.
Nearly 80% of the work to widen, deepen, and strengthen the canal has been completed. A box culvert is also being built. Once finished by mid-October, the project is expected to reduce flooding by 60-70% during the Northeast monsoon, according to officials.
Similarly, work on the Keelkattalai surplus course- which faced delays due to fund constraints- has been expedited, ahead of the monsoon. The WRD is focusing on improving vulnerable stretches along S.Kolathur, Bagyalakshmi Nagar and Ichangadu to reduce inundation in neighbouring areas like Kovilambakkam and Madipakkam.
