Chennai: With the onset of northeast monsoon fast approaching, the public works department (Water Resource Department) has been gearing up to undertake pre-monsoon works.
As a first step, the officials started taking up baby canal works in Cooum river for a distance covering 18 km from Paruthipattu to Chetpet for a free water flow, if there is a heavy rain.
PWD officials pointed out that such ‘stone-made’ baby canal, constructed in mid river bed, will help segregate sewage mixed water and deposit garbage.
Faced with fund crunch earlier, PWD had not undertaken even a single work relating to pre-monsoon so far. Sources said that baby canal works for 18 km have not been done for even a single km.
Meanwhile, activists raise a question as to how the baby canal will draw garbage and sewage water, when the water flow will be overtopping the river. A. Veerappan, former special chief engineer, Chennai region, termed this baby-canal works in the river an ‘eyewash’. “I am at a loss to understand the fact that how sewage and sludge will be accumulated in this baby canal and it is a waste of taxpayer’s money,” he charged. When there is a heavy flow of water, such baby canal will either be destroyed of washed away, he noted.
When contacted by DC, M Mani, Superintending Engineer, PWD, Palar Circle, Chennai region, said that work commenced last year but have not been completed so far.
“Since Cooum river is playing pivotal role in discharging water during heavy rain and preventing floods, the necessity was felt to undertake such kind of works at the cost of Rs 25 crore,” the SE said, stressing that they would complete the works before the onset of monsoon.
