STORM WATER DRAINAGE PROJECT CHAOS IN CHENNAI
Without assessing it’s capability to design , supervise and implement to required standards, Greater Chennai Corporation has embarked on a massive storm water drain project across Chennai city.
Covering more than 500 streets with length of over 1000 kilometre and investment cost of more than Rs. 4000 crore (borrowed from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others ), Chennai Corporation fixed schedule of around six months to complete the project by end September, Obviously, Chennai Corporation has bitten more than what it can chew.
Now, many roads in Chennai are in chaotic state , with labourers digging deep and wide , throwing the underground cables carelessly outside and exposing them to rain and sun without any safety precaution and without supervision.
Experts are of the view that the entire design is outdated and the project should have been completed with much less cost and shorter duration. Sadly, Chennai Corporation has not consulted several experts in the city who know what they are talking about.
Now, September is not far off and monsoon will arrive soon. It appears that Chennai Corporation is in a panicky mood, as it has taken measures to bring several workers from northern India and flying them to Chennai, obviously no confidence in Tamil Nadu labourers.
Several roads have been heavily damaged with the top portion of the storm water drain being more than one foot than the road level. Residents are unable to take their vehicles inside their premises.
Several complaints from residents to Chennai Corporation have not been acknowledged
It appears this massive project would not be completed anytime soon considering the state of progress and the chaotic conditions.
I shudder to think what would be Chennai like , if the monsoon would arrive even before September.
The storm water drain project of Chennai Corporation is a classic example as to how a civic project should not be implemented.
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
Covering more than 500 streets with length of over 1000 kilometre and investment cost of more than Rs. 4000 crore (borrowed from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others ), Chennai Corporation fixed schedule of around six months to complete the project by end September, Obviously, Chennai Corporation has bitten more than what it can chew.
Now, many roads in Chennai are in chaotic state , with labourers digging deep and wide , throwing the underground cables carelessly outside and exposing them to rain and sun without any safety precaution and without supervision.
Experts are of the view that the entire design is outdated and the project should have been completed with much less cost and shorter duration. Sadly, Chennai Corporation has not consulted several experts in the city who know what they are talking about.
Now, September is not far off and monsoon will arrive soon. It appears that Chennai Corporation is in a panicky mood, as it has taken measures to bring several workers from northern India and flying them to Chennai, obviously no confidence in Tamil Nadu labourers.
Several roads have been heavily damaged with the top portion of the storm water drain being more than one foot than the road level. Residents are unable to take their vehicles inside their premises.
Several complaints from residents to Chennai Corporation have not been acknowledged
It appears this massive project would not be completed anytime soon considering the state of progress and the chaotic conditions.
I shudder to think what would be Chennai like , if the monsoon would arrive even before September.
The storm water drain project of Chennai Corporation is a classic example as to how a civic project should not be implemented.
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
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Sir, in your note you have not mentioned about the need and relevance of these SWDs particularly in an area like Besant Nagar and Kalakshetra colony, where the soil is sandy and any amount of rain will percolate into the soil on its own and help to sustain the good groundwater source that we residents are blessed with. These drains are not at all relevant in the above mentioned areas and hence there is no need to construct them. If constructed, we will lose our precious groundwater source, which is far better than Metrowater.
Jul 17
How can this be represented so that the necessary steps are taken? The same situation is in my road.
Jul 16
it is money making for them but it is life for people like us. can we stop this and file RTI of this project. old days open drain was easy to clean provided it is properly elevated side walls . closed champers are dark ghost and no one can remove the slit from it. we are leading toward a dangerous end.
Jul 16
Given that the quantity of water from monsoons and summer rains vary from year to year, it makes sense to follow century old concepts of egg shaped drains which provide for reasonable velocity for the water drained into storm water drains. As in London for example. It is also necessary to provide for 500 to 600 mm rains per day as peak requirement across the metropolitan area and 800 mm for major ducts. Further, taking the lines through pavements and providing projected manholes above pavements will avoid accidental fall for humans and animals and avoid frequent digging of roads.
Jul 16
yes, it is a money making project rather than road and sewage pipeline repairs. Every year this is the same routine. L1 the lowest tender is chosen and there is a round robin system which ensures every contractor gets a deal in rotation!!. who cares if the public are put to problems!!
Jul 16
