Ahead of the northeast monsoon, work to desilt the Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam drain stretch and the Otteri Nullah is on at a rapid pace. Besides desilting, the Public Works Department (PWD) has also cleared encroachments and demolished some structures that hindered the flow, including a historical bridge built near Binny Mills.
PWD officials expect the work to be completed by Oc-tober 15. “This is part of the `633 crore project allotted to the PWD by Chennai Corporation. Along with desilting and widening of canals, we are building pre-cast walls to protect it from encroachment and ensure a steady flow. We will also be building diversion channels in the Virugambakkam-Aurmbakkam drain and Otteri Nullah as a precaution measure to stop flooding in the area,” an official said.
PWD sources said during heavy rains in 2005, the Otteri nullah breached its banks and inundated areas in Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Otteri, Puliyanthope, Perambur, Vyasarpadi, Kannigapuram, Cooks Road and Binny Mill Road.
“We will also be building a diversion concrete channel from K4 police station to K3 police station at a cost of `21.3 crore as the maximum discharge observed at K4 is 1,000 cusecs, while the original carrying capacity was 400 cusecs,” a senior PWD official said.
Before the work started, the nullah’s flow was restricted by encroachments and waste thrown by the people.
Desilting and widening of the 6.36-km Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam drain, which originates near Chinmaya Nagar and confluences in the Cooum near Nelson Manickam Road is also nearing completion. This would bring relief to Chinmaya Nagar, Sai Nagar, Mazid Nagar, MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, Choolaimedu and Railway Colony. These areas were inundated for 56 hours during the 2005 flood.
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