Date:07/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060716390500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Canal widened to prevent flooding

K. Manikandan

Paappaan canal to be desilted, enlarged for distance of two km

SET FOR NEW LOOK: Desilting and widening of the `Paappaan canal' in Tambaram under way. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM : Residents of Old Perungalathur, West Tambaram and Mudichur areas still remember the December 2005 monsoon that caused havoc in their areas.

Mudichur road was submerged under three feet of rainwater and so was the road connecting Tambaram and Somangalam. The vast areas sandwiched between these two roads turned islands and for three days, police, army personnel and fishermen had to deploy boats to rescue marooned residents and supply essential items to stranded residents who insisted on staying back in their houses.

One of the main reasons for this flooding was the choked water channels in Tambaram area, particularly the `Paappaan canal.' The canal originates near Perungalathur before draining into the Adyar river after passing through Tambaram.

In the past residents of Perungalathur moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction to Tambaram Municipality to ensure that sewage water from the local body did not drain into the canal. Though the canal had been strengthened at many places, in most parts in the jurisdiction of Tambaram Municipality, it was choked and had shrunk as it was neglected for several years.

However, recently the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply decided to desilt and widen the canal to a width of 60 feet.

Desilting and widening of the canal for a distance of about two kilometres is being carried out.

The total outlay for improvement works on this canal was Rs. 1.50 crore, officials said.

It is proposed to strengthen the surface and embankments with concrete structures.