The twenty one micro-canals crisscrossing the city of Chennai would be restored by Greater Chennai Corporation or GCC. This would be carried out at an amount of Rs 86. 4 crores
Various activities that would be carried out by GCC soon are plugging sewage inflow, deflecting sewage, building sidewalls and putting meshes to avoid public throwing garbage etc. This was pointed out by GCC superintending engineer Mr. K. Vijayakumar. It is learnt that GCC would also be engaged in desilting of canals and deepening them to make the canals to carry more flood water especially in the rainy season. By November 2023, tenders would be finalised and by January 2024 works would commence.
Restoration works would be carried out in Vyasarpadi based Captain Cotton canal, Nolambur canal in Ambattur of 2.4km in length. Those canals present in core Chennai localities like Nandanam, Nungambakkam, Raj Bhavan etc would be restored. It is now said that the restoration of the above said canals in Chennai would provide hue relief to core city places. In these places, frequent reverse flow of water occurs is known.
For water to flow freely in Cooum and Adyar, the restoration of canals was very much needed and this was mentioned by Mr. S. Vijayakumar, CRR member secretary. To prevent further degradation of the canals, work such as removal of encroachments and fencing up the stretch etc would be done. He threw light about the appointment of a concessionaire to maintain the Adyar River
Point is that once the sewage outfalls are plugged and water channels get restored, then flood management would be better.
The flow of water was from west to east and restoration of canals was essential. This was according to a water management expert Mr. S. Janakiraman. He was of the view that periodical maintenance was important.