CHENNAI: In areas that experienced significant flooding from Tuesday, residents had to wade through not only floodwaters but also plastic bags, old furniture, and other waste. In Pattalam and Vyasarpadi flood waters pushed garbage into homes.
Greater Chennai Corporation deployed drones to monitor garbage dumping and excavators to pick them up from channels supposed to drain residential areas. But garbage still blocked some canals and even got washed downstream.
"We have currently procured 100 drones to monitor and even deliver materials. GCC used around six drones to monitor all the major canals," said GCC deputy commissioner (works) V Sivakrishnamurthy. Kodungaiyur Canal was also monitored last month. "But the canal was clogged on Wednesday night in Muthamizh Nagar 3rd Main Road," said LM Jaiganesh from the area.
Waterbodies were also clogged. "One side of Perumbakkam lake has turned a dumpyard. If it rains more, the lake can breach again like last year," said Vipin Kumar from Perumbakkam.
"Solid waste choking canals can increase inundation by 30% and sewage discharge forms sludge too. So, the capacity of drains reduces by 40%," said B Sakthivel, a project management consultant with water resources department.
If there are encroachments, they dump garbage and add to the issue, said Sakthivel. "Slapping fines for garbage dumping can only help."
"We will continue imposing spot fines for garbage dumping and drones will monitor the canals from Thursday," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.
With sewage also flowing into drains and canals, the floodwaters were a cocktail of disease-causing microorganisms. "Anyone wading through stagnant water on roads is at risk of diseases such as leptospirosis. They will require a preventive dose of doxycycline. We are giving it free to all frontline workers," said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.
Greater Chennai Corporation deployed drones to monitor garbage dumping and excavators to pick them up from channels supposed to drain residential areas. But garbage still blocked some canals and even got washed downstream.
"We have currently procured 100 drones to monitor and even deliver materials. GCC used around six drones to monitor all the major canals," said GCC deputy commissioner (works) V Sivakrishnamurthy. Kodungaiyur Canal was also monitored last month. "But the canal was clogged on Wednesday night in Muthamizh Nagar 3rd Main Road," said LM Jaiganesh from the area.
Waterbodies were also clogged. "One side of Perumbakkam lake has turned a dumpyard. If it rains more, the lake can breach again like last year," said Vipin Kumar from Perumbakkam.
"Solid waste choking canals can increase inundation by 30% and sewage discharge forms sludge too. So, the capacity of drains reduces by 40%," said B Sakthivel, a project management consultant with water resources department.
If there are encroachments, they dump garbage and add to the issue, said Sakthivel. "Slapping fines for garbage dumping can only help."
"We will continue imposing spot fines for garbage dumping and drones will monitor the canals from Thursday," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.
With sewage also flowing into drains and canals, the floodwaters were a cocktail of disease-causing microorganisms. "Anyone wading through stagnant water on roads is at risk of diseases such as leptospirosis. They will require a preventive dose of doxycycline. We are giving it free to all frontline workers," said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.
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