Review meeting held to assess monsoon preparedness in city

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi reviewed the preparedness for the Northeast monsoon in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) areas, at a meeting with zonal monitoring officers and officials of various departments held at the Secretariat on Monday.

According to a press release, Mr. Bedi directed officials to expedite the completion of the ongoing stormwater drain works, and continue desilting stormwater drains and silt catch pits. It said 1.10 lakh silt collection pits had been desilted in the first phase and the second phase was under way.

The release added that officials had been asked to complete stormwater drain connectivity works and keep motor pumps ready at locations where the works were incomplete. It said water hyacinth should be removed and silt cleared from 44 waterways and from the Cooum, Adyar and Buckingham Canal, besides waterbodies under the Water Resources Department (WRD).

The release mentioned that 28 minor railway bridges were to be fully desilted and that 1,320 motor pumps were available for use at 219 identified waterlogging locations. Measures had to be taken to prevent waterlogging in 24 subways.

The release stated that 65,000 dangerous tree branches had been pruned and removed. It also said that 215 relief centres and 116 kitchens were ready, while 36 Corporation boats and 275 boats, in coordination with the Fisheries Department, were to be kept ready. More than 5,000 volunteers had registered, it added.

The officials were also directed to undertake monsoon preparedness and disaster management works in coordination and on a war-footing.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Managing Director T. Anand, zonal monitoring officers, and officials from the Corporation, WRD, Highways Department, Railways, Electricity Department, and Chennai Metro Rail Limited were present.