Velachery Floods: ₹47.5 Cr Spent, Still Waterlogged

Velachery residents face recurring floods each monsoon, a persistent issue despite substantial investment. While ₹47.5 crore was spent on stormwater drains, covering most of the locality's roads, the low-lying area remains vulnerable. This recurring inundation highlights deficiencies in drainage maintenance, sewage management, and the preservation of natural water channels.

Three primary factors contribute to Velachery's flood woes. Firstly, stormwater drains are frequently clogged by sewage originating from illegal connections in apartment buildings, residential complexes, and commercial establishments. This inflow obstructs silt catch pits and pipelines, reducing their capacity to handle rainwater and leading to backflow and overflowing manholes. Residents in several colonies report stagnant water up to two to three feet deep after heavy rainfall.

Secondly, Veerangal Odai, a vital natural waterway that channels runoff towards Pallikaranai marsh, is heavily obstructed. Despite its critical role in the city's drainage, only a portion of the 3.8 km Odai has been desilted, with garbage, silt, and encroachments impeding water flow. The third major issue is the drastic reduction of Velachery lake's size, from over 150 acres to approximately 55 acres, due to encroachments. Pollution from sewage and the proliferation of water hyacinth further degrade its capacity to act as a natural reservoir.

Urban planners emphasize that true flood resilience requires more than just drains; it necessitates restoring the entire drainage chain, clearing encroachments, desilting waterways, preventing sewage inflow, and rejuvenating the lake's storage capacity. Clear departmental accountability and consistent maintenance are deemed essential for an effective basin-wide plan.

In response, the Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed powerful water-pumping motors and workers to affected streets. Efforts are also underway to raise the banks of Veerangal Odai to increase its carrying capacity and to desilt drains and culverts. Planned drainage projects aim to improve water flow towards the sea, offering a potential long-term solution to the persistent flooding problem.