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Chennai, Oct 26 (IANS) Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday conducted a surprise inspection of the Adyar river mouth for the second consecutive day to review the ongoing dredging and widening works to facilitate free flow of flood waters into the Bay of Bengal during the intensifying northeast monsoon.
The inspection, which took place near Srinivaspuram, followed CM Stalin’s previous visit on October 24. Officials of the Public Works Department and Greater Chennai Corporation briefed the Chief Minister about the progress of the works and the measures taken to prevent flooding in vulnerable areas across the city.
The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite the widening of the river mouth and ensure that the work is completed before heavy rains intensify in the coming days. He emphasized that the Adyar estuary plays an important role in draining excess water from the city’s reservoirs into the sea, thereby helping in reducing floods in low-lying areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramaniam and Thousand Lights MLA Ezhilan accompanied the Chief Minister during the inspection.
The team closely reviewed the dredging machinery deployed along the estuary and interacted with the engineers monitoring the operations.
Officials said the mouth of the Adyar river has become narrow due to siltation and encroachment over the years, leading to water logging during intense rainfall. The ongoing dredging and desilting efforts are part of the state’s pre-monsoon preparedness plan, which also includes strengthening river embankments, clearing blockages in storm water drains and installing motor pumps at major flood-prone intersections.
The Tamil Nadu government has intensified preventive measures in the coastal districts after a depression formed over the south-east Bay of Bengal, which is likely to turn into a cyclonic system in the coming days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts in the next 48 hours.
Officials said round-the-clock monitoring teams have been deployed to keep an eye on the water level in major reservoirs including Chembarambakkam and Poondi and regulate the surplus discharge into the sea through the Adyar river.
CM Stalin directed officials to maintain high vigilance and ensure that flood-mitigation operations remain uninterrupted even during adverse weather conditions.
–IANS
AL/DPB