Chennai faces flooding risks and dengue surge amid drainage issues

Chennai and its surrounding areas are facing infrastructure and public health challenges as the northeast monsoon approaches. Approximately 48 km of stormwater drain construction remains unfinished across the city, leaving several neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding. Delays in these projects, some of which have been ongoing for five years with funding from the Asian Development Bank and KfW Development Bank, have been attributed to coordination issues between the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited regarding the shifting of electrical junction boxes.

Simultaneously, the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation is facing scrutiny over a rise in dengue fever. The corporation recorded 67 dengue cases in the first 21 days of September, representing one-third of the total cases reported in the area this year. Local officials and residents have blamed stagnant water, uncleared garbage, and clogged drains for creating mosquito breeding grounds, despite municipal claims of intensified inspections.