Unused canals revived to tackle flooding during monsoon in Madhavaram, Puzhal

IN a bid to reduce flooding during heavy rain in north Chennai, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has restored old and unused irrigation channels and converted them into temporary flood-mitigation channels in Madhavaram and Puzhal by linking them with existing stormwater drain networks.

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN

Officials said the move is expected to bring relief to several residential areas that face waterlogging every monsoon.

According to WRD sources, a 2.4km stretch of the channel has been restored and linked with the existing stormwater drain networks. This will allow the diversion of surplus water from Madhavaram tank during intense rain into the Red Hills reservoir's surplus course and prevent flooding in neighbourhoods, the sources added.