Debris dumped in Cooum due to elevated corridor work raises flooding risk: residents

Ahead of the onset of Northeast monsoon this month, residents have complained about the dumping of debris from the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor Project at several locations of the Cooum, hindering its flow.

The flood risk in areas such as Egmore, Chintadripet, Nungambakkam, Chetpet, Choolaimedu, Aminjikarai, Anna Nagar, and Koyambedu is high this year owing to the earthen obstructions that have reduced the river width to 30 metres, according to councillors.

The engineers of civic agencies have pointed to a minimum width of 70 metres to prevent flooding caused by a maximum of 25,000 cusecs in the Cooum during the monsoon, in the event of a cloudburst.

As the work is under way, residents of neighbourhoods in the tidal reach of the river have demanded the GCC and the WRD to inspect the earthen obstructions in the river and check whether the storm water drains are blocked at the outfall points.

Egmore resident R.Sumathi said residents were worried about the risk of flooding this year along stretches such as Langs Garden Road because the river width was reduced because of the project. During the previous monsoon, several roads were flooded because of the obstructions in the storm water drains at the outfall points. Sewage overflow was also reported by residents.

Some of the earthen mounds created to construct 900 pillars in the river for the project have been cleared as part of monsoon preparedness. However, the debris have not been removed from the riverbed. Instead, large bunds measuring 10 metres have been created using the debris, reducing the width of the river. Residents said the officials of various agencies should conduct a joint inspection to study the impact of the large bunds created artificially in the river parallel to the flow.

Ward 61 councillor Fatima Muzaffer said at least seven wards in the area are likely to be affected because of the project in the river. “The earthen obstructions should be removed. We request the government to constitute a committee and include councillors to inspect the site,” she said.

Chennai Corporation officials said a decision will be taken after a meeting on Monday.