Protest against flooding near SRP tools junction

Chennai: Owners of the manufacturing units in Dr Vikram Sarabhai industrial estate in Thiruvanmaiyur along with their workers were planning to stage a token protest on Rajiv Gandhi Salai next week to highlight the failure of the public works department to complete the stormwater drain from Velachery to Buckingham canal near SRP Tool junction that led to floods following cyclone Vardah.

The water resources department commenced construction of 4.1 km long stormwater drain to carry excess water from Velachery lake to South Buckingham Canal through SRP tool junction six years ago. Though the construction of the canal from the lake till the junction was completed, the outlet connecting the canal by constructing a duct cutting across the OMR was not done yet.

“Now complete stormwater from Velachery to SRP tools junction find its way into our estate flooding all the units even for the slightest rain. Because of the inefficiency of the WRD department we are suffering for the last five to six years,” said A. Murugesan, committee member, Dr Vikram Sarabhai Instronics Estate Manufacturer’s Association. “We have sent letters to PWD, chief minister cell, industries director, corporation of Chennai for the past three years explaining the problems and the ground conditions but without any result,” he lamented. Pointing to the complaints made to the CM cell before the onset of monsoon this year, he said all the industrial units were flooded with two feet of water following cyclone Vardah. In the last year’s flood, the industrial units were submerged under seven feet of water causing a loss of Rs 6 crore,  he pointed out.

“Because of the inefficiency of PWD department we are suffering for the last 5 to 6 years. Now we have decided to stage a protest on the side of Rajiv Gandhi Salai next week to highlight the failure of the government departments,” he said.