WRD to floodproof Chennai, neighbourhood

CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department (WRD) on Wednesday proposed a slew of measures to address flooding in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and adjoining districts, including taking up pre-monsoon maintenance works in waterways at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore.

Replying to the debate on demand for grants for his department in the Assembly, Irrigation Minister Duraimurugan said maintenance works would be undertaken in waterways at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore to prevent flooding during North East monsoon in GCC and adjoining Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore districts.

As part of the works, vegetation and waste would be removed and flood mitigation works would be undertaken in Otteri Nullah and canals in Arumbakkam, Virugambakkam, Adambakkam and Buckingham Canal in Narayanapuram.

Sand deposits would be removed from Cooum and estuaries in Ennore, Palaverkadu, Muttukadu and Adyar, while similar works would be taken up in waterways in the neighbouring districts.

The Minister also announced six permanent flood mitigation works at an estimated cost of Rs 88 crore to prevent flood damage in Porur, Kerakambakkam, Kolappakkam and Manappakkam which form a part of Adyar surplus drainage sub-basin in Chennai and Kancheepuram districts.

The works include widening of Kolappakkam Canal II at Manappakkam in Alandur at Rs 9 crore, and widening, desilting and construction of retention walls for Kolappakkam canal I in Kolappakkam in Kundrathur block at Rs 24 crore.

Retteri lake capacity to be doubled

Duraimurugan also announced a Rs 44-crore project to augment the storage capacity of Retteri lake by an additional 30 million cubic feet (mcft) from its present capacity of 32 mcft. The department has also proposed deepening, installing water regulators and developing the lake in Kosasthalaiyar drainage sub-basin to 62 mcft to supply drinking water to Greater Chennai Corporation.

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Bharat Hindu Munnani to conduct Ram Navami procession via alternate route.

Prabhu, a trustee of Bharat Hindu Munnani, had filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking an order to the city police permitting the Ram Navami procession in Chennai city on March 30. The petitioner contended that the Bharat Hindu Munnani has been conducting a procession with a portrait of Lord Ram on his birthday (Ram Navami) since 2015.

“The Bharat Hindu Munnani filed a petition before the Greater Chennai Police seeking permission for a Ram Navami procession from George Town Coral Merchant Street to Perambur Pattalam on March 30. Only 50 people will participate in the procession. The procession will be conducted in a peaceful manner and there is no possibility of any law and order problem. The court should pass an order to the city police to permit the procession,” said the petitioner. When the plea came up before Justice G Chandrasekharan, prosecutor Santhosh, appearing for Greater Chennai Police, contended that it is not true that the police had permitted the procession in 2015-2016 and the permission was denied as there is a high possibility of traffic congestion as it is an area where there is a lot of movement of public and vehicles. There is a possibility of jeopardising religious harmony due to the large number of people of other religions living there. Hearing the arguments, the judge closed the case by directing the Bharat Hindu Munnani to submit a fresh petition before the city police to take the procession through an alternate route and the police should consider this and take a decision.