TN Targets August Completion of Chennai Stormwater Drain Network Before Monsoon

The Tamil Nadu government has directed officials to complete all ongoing stormwater drain works across Chennai by August to strengthen the city's preparedness for the upcoming northeast monsoon , with civic authorities intensifying desilting, flood mitigation, and drainage connectivity measures across vulnerable locations. The deadline comes as the state seeks to minimise urban flooding and improve rainwater evacuation before the seasonal rains.

According to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) , Commissioner G S Sameeran reviewed monsoon preparedness at Ripon Buildings, assessing the desiltation of canals and ponds, reconstruction of flood protection walls, and progress of critical infrastructure works. He instructed officials to prioritise connecting missing links in the stormwater drain network and ensure all unfinished projects are completed within the August timeline.

The commissioner also ordered continuous desilting of more than one lakh silt catch pits , which prevent garbage from entering drains and help maintain uninterrupted rainwater flow. GCC officials said 36,982 catch pits have already been desilted , removing 1,849.10 metric tonnes of silt . Continuous desilting has also been mandated across all 44 major waterways in the city.

Officials have been directed to clear bottlenecks where stormwater drains connect with canals and where waterways discharge into the Adyar River , Cooum River , and Buckingham Canal . Sameeran also reviewed improvement works along the Virugambakkam Canal , Otteri Nullah , and Veerangal Odai , stressing the timely completion of flood retaining walls. Fresh tenders have meanwhile been floated in several city zones for desilting and minor repairs, complementing Chennai's broader integrated stormwater drainage programme, under which additional drain construction remains in progress.