Mudichur let down by politics, bureaucracy
Pradeep Kumar| TNN | Nov 2, 2017, 00:23 IST
CHENNAI: Why does it flood in Mudichur is not a relevant question anymore. Rather, what to do when it floods is what the Tamil Nadu government must answer. But on the ground, the government appears as clueless as it was in 2015.
On Wednesday, the third day of monsoon, the area recorded only 4cm of rainfall, yet the Mudichur Main Road resembled a water channel. When the water levels rose on one side of the road, the state highways department which maintains the road, broke the median and then some parts of the road for the water to flow out of the area.
It not only affected vehicular movement but also it became risky for two-wheeler riders to navigate the stretch. The Mudichur Road has been a slush track as the road was not relaid after Chennai Metrowater finished laying pipelines recently. With the highways breaking the road, loose gravel started peeling off under the force of flowing water.
According to Peter J, a resident, the highways department's incomplete storm water drains were complicating the situation. S R Raja, Tambaram MLA (DMK), said the work order was issued more than 18 months ago. He alleged the contractor illegally sublet the work to an unqualified person, resulting in poor construction quality. "Even if the drain is complete, Mudichur will still be flooded. Because the drain's capacity is small," said Raja, a point echoed by Tambaram municipality officials as well.
After the highways' workers broke the median, water gushed into the neighbouring residential locality of Mullai Nagar and Pandian Nagar. In minutes, the localities were submerged in 2ft water. This also resulted in a skirmish between residents, one of whom had encroached upon poramboke land blocking rainwater flow, said Shanthi, a resident.
"The municipality officials are in cohorts with the encroacher," she added. With the cops as mute spectators, the alleged encroacher engaged in fisticuffs with another person. Locals protested against the police inaction and staged a road roko affecting traffic for a short duration.
As the action unfolded, in neighbouring Varadarajapuram, rural industries minister P Benjamin was spotted posing for photographs. After two days of hip-deep water, the administration was alerted to Varadarajapuram residents' plight early on Wednesday.
Workers were engaged to desilt the flood carriers, again raising question about the monsoon preparedness. No sooner had the minister's convoy left, the workers followed suit leaving the job that they come to do unfinished.
CHENNAI: Why does it flood in Mudichur is not a relevant question anymore. Rather, what to do when it floods is what the Tamil Nadu government must answer. But on the ground, the government appears as clueless as it was in 2015.
On Wednesday, the third day of monsoon, the area recorded only 4cm of rainfall, yet the Mudichur Main Road resembled a water channel. When the water levels rose on one side of the road, the state highways department which maintains the road, broke the median and then some parts of the road for the water to flow out of the area.
It not only affected vehicular movement but also it became risky for two-wheeler riders to navigate the stretch. The Mudichur Road has been a slush track as the road was not relaid after Chennai Metrowater finished laying pipelines recently. With the highways breaking the road, loose gravel started peeling off under the force of flowing water.
According to Peter J, a resident, the highways department's incomplete storm water drains were complicating the situation. S R Raja, Tambaram MLA (DMK), said the work order was issued more than 18 months ago. He alleged the contractor illegally sublet the work to an unqualified person, resulting in poor construction quality. "Even if the drain is complete, Mudichur will still be flooded. Because the drain's capacity is small," said Raja, a point echoed by Tambaram municipality officials as well.
After the highways' workers broke the median, water gushed into the neighbouring residential locality of Mullai Nagar and Pandian Nagar. In minutes, the localities were submerged in 2ft water. This also resulted in a skirmish between residents, one of whom had encroached upon poramboke land blocking rainwater flow, said Shanthi, a resident.
"The municipality officials are in cohorts with the encroacher," she added. With the cops as mute spectators, the alleged encroacher engaged in fisticuffs with another person. Locals protested against the police inaction and staged a road roko affecting traffic for a short duration.
As the action unfolded, in neighbouring Varadarajapuram, rural industries minister P Benjamin was spotted posing for photographs. After two days of hip-deep water, the administration was alerted to Varadarajapuram residents' plight early on Wednesday.
Workers were engaged to desilt the flood carriers, again raising question about the monsoon preparedness. No sooner had the minister's convoy left, the workers followed suit leaving the job that they come to do unfinished.
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