As the north-east monsoon rains continue to lash Chennai, the city’s corporation is strengthening measures for flood control. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Monday, November 6, rented 15 tractor pumps from farmers in the state, in addition to the 150 tractors that have been stationed across the 15 zones from November 1. Rs 10 lakh has also been devoted to each of the 15 zones to undertake measures for flood relief.
“Previously, tractor pumps were acquired from farmers who cultivated paddy from Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram only because November and December are off seasons for them. But this time, farmers from Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Villupuram districts have come to our aid. While more of them are ready to rent out their tractor pumps, we already have 845 tractor pumps to clear inundation,” the GCC spokesperson told TNM. Around 37 low-lying areas have been identified by the Corporation, where 100 pumps will be stationed to provide instant flood relief, the spokesperson added.
Mayor R Priya, while speaking to the media, also assured that the Storm Water Drain (SWD) project, which the corporation aimed to complete before the north-east monsoon, will also be completed before November 12. “Around 92% of SWD work is complete and desilting work has also been carried out,” Priya said.
GCC has identified 169 locations including GCC schools and community centres which will function as relief centres where Zonal level officers will be deployed. Flood surveillance has also been stepped up with more than 500 surveillance cameras installed in the city and in canal/river mouths. 46 flood sensors have been installed across the city and in 109 locations, relief boats will be arranged by the Fisheries department in case of emergencies, the corporation said. With all measures in place, flooding situations can be controlled within an hour in the city, Commissioner Radhakrishnan, told the media.
Flood control room contact numbers: 044- 2561-9204, 044- 2561-9206, 044- 2561-9207