City’s storm water drainage system goes under water

Corporation should desilt or clean the drains and drainage canals to ensure free flow of water

Even as the current spell of rain has brought happiness to the people, it has exposed the poor storm water drainage system in the city.

Since the second week of August the city has been experiencing rain at regular intervals.

It has recorded about seven rainy days during the current southwest monsoon season.

During the last 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Tiruchi junction recorded 84 mm and Truchi town received 32.20 mm respectively. Similarly, Tiruchi airport recorded 45 mm.

Though the rain did not cause much damage to road infrastructure on the first five rainy days as the city experienced showers after a long dry spell, the storm water drains have been facing enormous pressure in handling rainwater during the current spell.

The Melapudur underpass in the city was flooded after the heavy downpour on Saturday forcing traffic diversions.

The subway was out of bounds for few hours mainly for cars and two wheelers.

Most of the vehicle users using the subway to proceed to Palakkarai had to take detour via Beema Nagar to the other side.

Similarly, Tiruchi Junction bound vehicles from Gandhi market took alternate route.

The road users, mainly two wheelers, had to face tough time due to overflowing of rainwater drains on Madurai road near Singarathope a few days ago. Water stagnation was reported at several areas in the city including Edamalaipatti Pudur and K.K. Nagar after the city received heavy rain on Saturday.

The city residents are of the view that the water stagnation issue will trouble the people more once the onset of northeast monsoon.

The northeast monsoon is likely to begin in the third or fourth week of October.

They feel that it is the right time for the Tiruchi Corporation to desilt or clean the open drains and drainage canals so as to ensure free flow of water during rainy days.

S. Viswanathan, vice-president, Thanneer organisation and former Director of Physical Education, Bharathidasan University, said that the northeast monsoon was just a few weeks away.

The City Corporation should have completed desilting of open and storm water drains by this time. The problematic areas and reasons for flooding on streets and roads must be immediately identified and dealt with.

The Corporation should complete desilt works within this month, many residents feel.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/citys-storm-water-drainage-system-goes-under-water/article19618656.ece