The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has intensified its pre-monsoon stormwater drain cleaning and desilting operations across several flood-prone areas of the city in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season. The civic body has deployed teams and machinery to remove silt, debris, and waste from drainage channels to improve water flow and reduce the risk of urban flooding.
Officials said the cleaning drive is being carried out in low-lying and waterlogging-prone neighborhoods, including parts of north Chennai and densely populated residential zones where heavy rainfall often leads to flooding. Workers are focusing on clearing blocked drains, catch pits, and canal networks to ensure rainwater can move quickly into major waterways.
According to civic authorities, Chennai has an extensive stormwater drain network of more than 2,000 kilometers, which channels rainwater from city streets into canals, rivers, and the sea. Regular desilting and maintenance are considered essential to prevent water stagnation during heavy rains.
The intensified cleaning campaign comes after past monsoon seasons caused significant waterlogging in several parts of the city. Officials say the current effort aims to address critical drainage gaps and strengthen flood-prevention measures before heavy rainfall begins.
Along with desilting operations, the corporation is also carrying out repair works, construction of missing drain links, and improvements to canal infrastructure to improve stormwater flow across key urban corridors. These infrastructure upgrades are part of broader efforts to enhance Chennai’s resilience against seasonal flooding and extreme weather events.
Civic officials have urged residents to avoid dumping waste into drains and canals, noting that garbage blockage is a major cause of flooding during the monsoon. Authorities say continuous monitoring and maintenance of drainage systems will continue in the coming months as the city prepares for the rainy season.News as Reported.
