M Rafi Ahmed
All is not well for the residents of Chennai metro and suburbs as normalcy is yet to return since water stagnation is posing a problem to a great extent. Visuals on the news channel presents a dismal picture wherein serpentine queues could be witnessed for Aavin milk as there is acute scarcity in and around the metro. Non-availability of Aavin milk has been reported from several areas while in some localities it is being sold at exorbitant rates.
The unprecedented rain due to the Michaung cyclone played havoc on the Chennai residents as the metro registered 45 cm rainfall. Despite the officials being on their toes to set things right, several residential localities like Velacherry, Otteri Jamalia, Kodungaiyur, Arumbakkam, Pulianthope, Tambaram, Sholinganallur are still submerged with no signs of water receding.
A major chunk of residents vented out their spleen that this present state of affairs is due to absence of long term planning to tackle heavy rains. Lack of adequate storm water drains in low lying areas is also said to be the reason for water stagnation. It is said that storm water drains have been constructed just to clear up to the extent of 20cm rainfall.
Meanwhile, Sundararajan from Poovulagin Nanbargal (friend of earth), an environmental organisation while speaking to a news channel cautioned that there is a chance of 70cm rainfall in the next few years and urged for preparing the people to combat the natural disasters confronting them due to heavy rains. What is needed is plans and proposals through IIT students to find permanent solutions to avoid water stagnation.
This scribe learnt that several retired top level government officials, who are residents of Velachery neighbourhood, have sought shelter at star hotels as rainwater hasn’t receded. Even when the state government is taking warfooting efforts to ensure normalcy returns, residents continue to face untold hardships. It is encouraging to infer small screen artistes Aranthangi Nisha providing food to the cyclone hit victims, Kalakka Povathu Yaaru (KPY) fame Bala visited Anakaputhur area and gave away cash to the affected people as a timely gesture.
Consumer activist C M Jayaraman said that the CMDA and DTCP should grant permission only after ascertaining that the sites aren’t located in low lying areas which are prone to waterlogging. Several high rise apartments and villas have sprung up in areas like Velacherry, Sholinganallur, Mudichur, Thoraipakkam, ECR and OMR with residents facing stagnation of rainwater which is a regular feature. Better to tighten the rules for giving the nod for site and apartment promotion.
