The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has identified 115 missing links of stormwater drains that affect flood preparedness ahead of the onset of the Northeast monsoon.At a monsoon preparedness meeting in the presence of Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar on Thursday, PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the Corporation will expedite work on completing work on the missing links. Following complaints about the dumping of boulders in the canals by CMRL in various parts of the city, the Minister advised the CMRL to remove the boulders and other fillings in the major canals and Okkiyam madavu before monsoon.Pointing to the 115 missing links, GCC Commissioner G.S.Sameeran said: “These are minor gaps to be completed for want of shifting of utilities like pillar boxes, transformers, gas pipelines. We are coordinating with the departments concerned and clearing it one by one.”Apart from these missing links there are major SWD works to be completed before monsoon, including MRH road to Puzhal surplus, ⁠East Avenue Road to Otteri Nullah and drain work on both sides of ⁠Arcot Road.The work will be completed before September 31. GCC maintains 44 canals, and desilting works have already commenced across all zones using specialised equipment such as robotic excavators, mini amphibians, amphibians, and amphibious excavators. Improvement works, including desilting, wall raising, and fencing, are being carried out under the Capital Fund. Of the 33 canals taken up for improvement, 28 have been completed, while the remaining works on Trustpuram, Otteri Nullah, Virugambakkam, Reddy Kuppam and Captain Cotton Canal are scheduled for completion by October 15. Most of the works under the capital fund have been completed, with only six works currently in progress.Major flood mitigation projects are also progressing steadily, said Dr.Sameeran. Demellows Road Works (ADB) will be completed by September 30, and the Ambattur Surplus Diversion Channel (East Avenue Road to Otteri Nullah) by October 15. Missing Link Storm Water Drain works have achieved 103 km of the 140 km target and are expected to be completed by September 30, said Dr.Sameeran.Under the KfW-funded Integrated Storm Water Drain Project (Phases I, II and III), 264.20 km of the total 310 km has been completed, with the remaining priority stretches targeted for completion by October 15, he said. Published - July 17, 2026 12:37 am IST