Amid residents’ demands, WRD steps up pre-monsoon waterways cleaning drive
The Water Resources Department in Tamil Nadu has sanctioned ₹42 crore for pre-monsoon desilting and maintenance of waterways across five districts. The initiative aims to prevent flooding by removing vegetation and debris, following public complaints about clogged waterbodies.
Why it matters
Effective maintenance of urban drainage and water infrastructure is vital for disaster mitigation and flood management in monsoon-prone regions.
Amid growing demands from residents to clean the waterways in and around Chennai, the Water Resources Department (WRD) is set to begin its annual pre-monsoon preparedness works in five districts, including Cuddalore, ahead of the Northeast monsoon.
A government order (G.O.) was issued recently, sanctioning about ₹42 crore for carrying out 202 works covering waterways across the five districts. The works are expected to begin by next week, according to sources.
Last month, the department, along with volunteers and non-governmental organisations, launched a special desilting drive to clean critical stretches, including the Cooum. However, the funds required for the comprehensive desilting exercise were still awaited.
The fund has now been sanctioned to remove vegetation impeding free flow of floodwater in waterways, desilt silt and debris in rivers and canals, and repair shutters and other hydraulic structures.
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