Renovation of Thennur drain begins

Trichy: Thennur High Road residents may heave a sigh of relief as Trichy corporation is finally launching the much-delayed renovation work of an open drain which caused frequent inundation due to its faulty design. Inundation of drainage and rainwater have been causing misery for local people, since the open drain near Thennur TNEB urban office was laying at a low-elevation when compared to Rettaivaikal drainage canal where it finally drains.

There has been frequent inundation from an open drain on Thennur High Road starting from TNEB urban office to Mahatma Gandhi School, which falls under ward number 50 in K Abishekapuram zone. The stormwater drain also serves as a drainage carrier for commercial outlets as well as residential establishments near Anna Nagar in Thennur. The 250-metre drain merges with Rettaivaikal drainage canal near Thennur RoB. However, as the elevation of the open drain lies far lower than the altitude of Rettaivaikal canal, the flow in the drain has been slow and hindered at times leading to stagnation of wastewater on Thennur High Road, which is running parallel to the Thennur RoB. The Times of India had highlighted the plight of residents in a report titled ‘Flood, stagnation worries for Thennur High Road folks’ on October 6 and the civic body had expedited efforts to float a tender for revamping the faulty design of the open drain.

Commencing the civil works, civic body officials said that elevation of the open drain near Thennur TNEB office would be increased to enable free flow of wastewater towards Rettaivaikal canal. Officials asserted that the height of the open drain would be increased by 0.75 feet to prevent wastewater from stagnating on Thennur High Road. “By increasing the elevation of the open drain, proper flow of drainage would be ensured. Simultaneously, we would also relay the roads on either side of Thennur RoB,” a junior engineer with Trichy Corporation said.

Admitting that the ongoing efforts would bring major relief, the residents also sought the civic body to cover the open drain with concrete slabs. “By keeping the drain uncovered, people may develop a tendency to use it as a toilet. Covering the drain with slabs will also help prevent accumulation of solid waste in the drain,” Dr V N Balakrishna Sharma, a resident of Thennur High Road told TOI. Corporation added that the renovation works would be completed in 15 days.

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