Thoothukudi Corporation gears up for northeast monsoon

With the northeast monsoon fast approaching, flood mitigation and other monsoon preparedness works are in full swing in Thoothukudi Corporation, as the State government, through the Municipal Administration Water Supply (MAWS) Department, has directed local bodies across the State to complete the works by October 10.

Thoothukudi was affected by one of the most destructive floods in 2023, which spotlighted several functional constraints and man-made issues surrounding the Puckle Xanal, one of the major stormwater carrying canal in the city and other several water draining mechanisms.

To prevent a repeat of the situation, Thoothukudi Corporation has intensified its monsoon preparedness works in the past two years. According to information provided by the Corporation, after the 2023 floods, a Storm Water Drain (SWD) network was constructed for a length of 89.5 km at an estimated cost of around ₹149 crore as a flood mitigation measure. SWD has been designed in such a way that the rain water will be discharged through 14 disposal points across the east, north and south zones into the sea.

Apart from regular desilting of Puckle Canal, the channel is also being widened at a cost of ₹53.7 crore. The 6.8-km project, which started in February 2026, has a time limit of 18 months for completion, and so far, around two km of widening work has been completed.

The Corporation has now completed around 95% of the work for the current year, according to a corporation official. However, at the Corporation council meeting held last week, councillors raised concern over use of manpower in cleaning drains. They said the Corporation was undertaking desilting using personnel already engaged in regular duties, affecting routine work, and demanded that separate workers be engaged for the purpose.

Santhanam, deputy district secretary, Thoothukudi South District AIADMK, said, “The Prosopis juliflora plant has been obstructing the entry of rainwater from Meelavittan to Puckle canal near Madathur.”

The invasive shrub must be removed from both sides of the canal entrance to ensure the free flow of water and failure to clear them could lead to flooding of P&T Colony and nearby areas during heavy showers, he added.

Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka said around 95% work, including cleaning 298 km of SWD and 1,052 culverts, had been completed. Following the demands of councillors, a separate team of 20 sanitary workers per zone was deployed to clean drains across the city. The Prosopis juliflora at the entrance point of Puckle canal would also be cleared in the coming week.

Ms. Priyanka further added that the owners of vacant plots that had led to flooding in low-lying wards of 16 and 17 had been informed, and many had elevated the land and additional SWD were constructed in those areas.

The Corporation had a total of 42 permanent pump rooms, 67 mobile pump rooms and other necessary machinery. “The Corporation is also in regular talks with private vendors and contractors for machinery in case of emergency,” Ms. Priyanka further said.