Chennai Chief Secretary sets September 30 deadline for monsoon preparedness

Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar has set a September 30 deadline for the completion of northeast monsoon preparedness works in Chennai. During inspections of the Adyar, Perungudi, and Sholinganallur zones, he emphasized the necessity for close coordination between the Greater Chennai Corporation, the Water Resources Department, the Highways Department, Chennai Metro Rail, and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

Key infrastructure projects under review include a Rs. 13.52 crore stormwater drain near Tidel Park in the Adyar zone, designed to transport rainwater from the IIT Madras area to the Buckingham Canal. In Perungudi, canal improvement works are underway in Mylai Balaji Nagar, with projects costing Rs. 6.48 crore and Rs. 8.68 crore for different canal blocks to reduce water stagnation in residential areas. Additionally, a Rs. 73-crore Highways Department stormwater drain project is being implemented at Thoraipakkam in Sholinganallur to direct water from the Pallikaranai marshland to the Buckingham Canal. The Chief Secretary also reviewed water hyacinth removal efforts at Narayanapuram lake.