1. Ambattur
2. Anna Nagar
3. Madhavaram
4. Vannanthurai (Adyar)
5. Besant Nagar
6. Vasantham Colony
7. Sholinganallur
8. Virugambakkam
9. CP Ramasamy Road (Mylapore)

To manage demand, Aavin has set a limit of 4 milk packets per person. Additionally, the company has stocked alternatives such as milk powder and UHT (Ultra High Temperature) milk. In areas heavily affected by rain, temporary sales points will also be established to ensure a steady milk supply. This initiative aims to maintain consistent availability despite the disruptions caused by the weather.

Efforts to Resolve the Issue

In 2022, Councillor J.Kayalvizhi tried to address the situation and cleared a part of the obstruction on L.B.Road (Adyar Times dated 30 Oct 2022). The residents also took their grievances to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), requesting that their stormwater drains (SWD) be connected to L.B. Road (near Hot Chips) to prevent flooding. This plea led to various government departments being asked by the tribunal to respond to the delay in providing relief to the residents.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) officials initially agreed to study the SWD issues and promised to design a more efficient drainage system. However, they and other departments (CMWSSB, BSNL, etc.) pointed fingers at each other for the delays, leaving the residents frustrated and with no clear solution in sight (Adyar Times dated 15 Oct.2023).

Continuing Flooding

Despite assurances from the GCC, Kamaraj Nagar’s residents continue to face the same challenges during this year’s monsoon. On Oct.17, the East Kamaraj Nagar (North) Residents Welfare Association filed an interim application with the NGT, highlighting the GCC’s failure to resolve the flooding issues. They highlighted that GCC’s stormwater management plan has been inadequate, particularly during heavy rains in mid-October.

The GCC had previously claimed that the majority of the work to fix the drainage issues had been completed, with only 5% of the project left. However, residents reported that the key component of the solution – a well designed to store stormwater and pump it into the Buckingham Canal, had failed to perform as expected. The well, about 20 feet deep, was unable to hold sufficient water, and the pump installed was not powerful enough to extract water (3 feet of water coming in and 1 inch of water pumped out), thus leading to flooded homes.

Sewage water complicates the problem

Even before the construction of the well was over, residents reported that sewage had started flowing into it. Despite informing the local councillor and the GCC, the issue remained unresolved. Thus to draw attention to the issue, residents staged a protest on Oct.12, demanding that the GCC take immediate action to complete the project before the monsoons intensified.

se rapidly, overwhelming the GCC’s pumps. The rainwater entered homes on the 2nd and 3rd East Streets, highlighting the inadequacy of the well design and the pump’s capacity. Additionally, the stormwater was not being discharged directly into the drains, but instead into chambers, which created reverse pressure and worsened the flooding.

Calls for permanent solutions

Residents pointed out that stormwater from Kamaraj Nagar is supposed to be discharged into the SWD at L.B. Road, but this has not happened due to obstructions, including BSNL cables blocking the drains and sewage discharge preventing proper flow. Furthermore, rainwater from L.B. Road itself has added to the flooding problems. Residents have called for the final discharge point of stormwater to be moved to the southern side of Thiruvalluvar Salai and for the Buckingham Canal to be desilted to ensure it can handle the increased water flow.

In their application to the NGT, the residents requested the tribunal to direct the GCC to redesign and implement an efficient SWD system that ensures seamless connectivity to the Buckingham Canal. They hope that with proper planning and execution, they can finally experience a flood-free monsoon in the next season.

The ZO sought the cooperation of the RWAs and volunteers to help steer through the upcoming monsoon with the following suggestions:

• Educate all residents about safety measures and flood preparedness, e.g., essential provisions to be stocked etc.
• Collaborating with local authorities to monitor drainage systems and water levels. 
• Assisting the elderly and differently-abled, during emergencies. The residents were requested to maintain a database of the elderly, differently-abled and pregnant women in their locality and be in touch with them for any help.
• Organising clean-up drives to prevent blockages in water channels. The ZO informed that despite multiple cleanups in water channels, poor civic sense among the public was leading to frequent choking of drains.

The residents also took this occasion to present their issues and questioned about practices in place/lessons learnt from last year’s monsoon. The highlighted issues include:

• SWD issues: No desilting of existing stormwater drains (SWDs), choked catchment pit with tar and mud, catchment pit sealed during road laying, improper slope leading to the drain, no check on sewage being let out into SWDs, disconnected SWDs (especially at Kamaraj Nagar East and Journalist Colony) and insufficient depth of SWD (Kannapa Nagar).
• Sewage issues: Most of the neighbourhood complained of sewage backflow inside residences during monsoon, especially when the roads were flooded. Also overflowing sewage on the roads. The Councillor also informed that they are upgrading pumping stations to tackle the issue.
• EB issues: After the construction of SWDs, the EB lines are out in the open and pose an enhanced risk during monsoon due to: (a) can cause tripping, (b) make pavements not fit for walking, (c) one hopes that the EB wires are well insulated.
• CMRL issues: The residents of 2nd Avenue Indira Nagar pointed out that due to CMRL work, the existing SWD has been rendered useless and the alternative SWD constructed has not been connected with the main pipe. The ZO informed that he would look into it. During the rains of Sep.25, the residents informed that the roads were totally flooded and the water was inches from entering homes. Despite informing the Corporation, help came in late and water did not recede till the wee hours of Sep.26.
• Flooding: Residents pointed out rampant concretisation as the main culprit of flooding, with no place for the water to seep in. Residents of Rukmini Road (Kalakshetra Colony) looked forward to a flood-free monsoon. The Councillor informed that diesel pumps are being readied and will be deployed at the slightest flooding. Residents of Dr.Radhakrishna Main Road and Kalakshetra Road (Thiruvanmiyur) pointed out that flooding prolonged in their areas due to pumping out of water by residences with basements. they suggested that the pumped water must not be let out on the road, but must be collected in tankers and discharged into water bodies. Residents of Karpagam Gardens thanked the GCC for relaying a bigger capacity SWD and for coordinating with Shiv Nadar School and Theosophical to ensure smooth water flow.
• Pruning of trees: The Councillor stated that the GCC had allotted the pruning machine for 3 days each for each ward, however, she has requested it for a longer time as areas like Kalakshetra Colony have more greenery.
• Encroachments: Residents pointed out encroachments on pavements have rendered pavements unfit for walking and this issue is aggravated during monsoon due to the flooding of roads.
• Other issues: Proper desilting of the Buckingham Canal end to end and its maintenance for proper flood mitigation. A check on rainwater harvesting systems in residences as well as commercial establishments to ensure no run-offs and recharge of groundwater. Relaying of all left-out roads with proper slope to prevent waterlogging. Residents also requested the GCC to obtain a GO to clean vacant plot (including private) to ensure their cleanliness, tackle waterlogging and prevent anti-social elements (especially in Velachery areas). They also pointed out that snakes are often seen during monsoon, which bite other animals. They asked for measures to be taken for the voiceless as well. Velachery residents also sought a check on encroachments around water bodies and canals, and ensure that channels were clear and big enough to take the load of water. They also requested the Corporation to prepare for the worst scenario and stock relief places with food and water so that residents don’t need to depend of air-drop of food packets.

The ZO concluded by stating that pumps will be deployed in advance at all places that are prone to flooding and enhanced anti-flooding measures will be deployed from next year onwards. Residents also pointed out that the presence of other stakeholders like TNEB, CMWSSB etc. was essential for constructive discussions in such meetings.

Below are the highlights from the meeting:

At the meeting, the Corporation AE said that nothing could be done for the current rains, however, a permanent solution will be planned after ECR widening and the stormwater drain construction is complete, post which the line from Valmiki Street shall be joined to ECR. 

As a temporary measure, a sump / well with a submersible pump is being planned near the Adyar Bakery junction. Also, they will get approval for fixing a suitable pipe from the lowest point of Valmiki Street to ECR and the same will be implemented within a month. 

AE CMWSSB informed that a new plan has been prepared for relaying new pipelines and installing a pumping station opposite Shruthi Apartments, for 

which the Corporation needs to provide the necessary space for wells and pumps.

Meanwhile, the residents suggested the below temporary measures:

• Establish a pipeline connection from Cholapuram Street to the SWD in Valmiki Street so that rainwater flows to the drains of Kalakshetra Road or ECR as appropriate.
• Desilting and cleaning of the recharge wells and SWDs in Cholapuram and Valmiki Street.
• GCC could evaluate the possibility of constructing drain pits (at the discarded gym), to pump the stormwater (similar to the one at the Jayanthi Signal). This is in case Valmiki Street water cannot naturally run through to Kalakshetra Road, due to terrain issues.

It poured and poured in Chennai on Dec.4 as Cyclone Michaung scraped past the city. And it left a trail of destruction along the way. Many areas of the city, especially ECR and OMR, saw rampant flooding, with some areas submerged under 6 ft of water. But what was surprising was to find the areas of Besant Nagar, Sastri Nagar and Dr.Radhakrishna Nagar also underwater.

Adyar Times spoke with some residents and experts on the issue to understand why despite having sandy soil, the areas were flooded. Dr.Sekhar Raghavan, Founder of Rain Centre and a resident of Kalakshetra Colony explains that when flooding happens, there are multiple points that a resident must understand:

• Give time for the water to seep in. It takes time for water to percolate inside. And given the increased concretisation, the time taken will be more than usual
• Rise in the water table – waterlogging / flooding is also an indication of the rise in groundwater levels; which is a good sign. If we put our efforts into removing this water, maintaining a good water table during the summers would be an issue. “Over the years, thanks to the many rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) in the area, I have seen a steady rise in the water table,” Dr Raghavan said.
• Concretisation of roads – Ideally, all streets must have a strip of soil on its sides, for water to seep in. This will prevent excessive run-offs to other streets and enable the absorption of water then and there. Concretisation also leads to the stagnation of water in low-lying areas from where it takes even more time to seep into the ground.
• Mindless pumping out of water – Many parts of Besant Nagar got inundated post the rains when water from private residences / institutes was pumped out into smaller lanes.

Dr.Raghavan, however vehemently reminds us that despite the water logging, stormwater drains (SWD) are not a solution to flooding. “If we reduce concretisation and increase our patience, neither will there be so much flooding, nor will there be an issue with temporary water-logging.”

Dr.T.D.Babu, Co-Founder of the civic body SPARK, also points out many issues caused by urbanisation, that lead to flooding at Sastri Nagar, which has SWDs.

• Improper laying of roads: The raised levels and improper gradient of L.B Road, 1st Avenue and MG Road have made the inner roads of Sastri Nagar low-lying, thus flooding the vicinity. The recent improper milling and laying of inner roads led to those roads being at a higher gradient than the others that were not laid, thus inundating the streets that were not laid.
• Concretisation of houses: Many newly built houses are now raised by around 5 ft from the original ground level. They are also completely concretised with little or no percolation area. Thus letting off all rain run-offs on the roads, further increases the load on the road.
• Improper RWH system: Improper or no RWH systems in many apartments lead to additional rainwater runoffs on the roads.
• Insufficient carrying capacity of sewage lines: Due to increased commercialisation, the carrying capacity of the sewer lines is insufficient. During floods / rains, when water enters the sewer lines, there is thus a backflow, leading to sewage entering houses.
• Gradient not leading to SWDs: improper gradient of the roads away from the SWD also led to inundation of houses in the streets.

“There has to be a mindful, coordinated and integrated effort between various agencies of the government for course correction. These issues can surely be resolved,” says Dr.Babu.

While these were points highlighted about flooding caused by rainwater, the neighbourhood of Dr Radhakrishna Nagar was inundated for days after the rains as well. Geeta Padmanabha, a member of RMSM (Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, Marundeeswarar Nagar, Sivakamipuram, Malaviya Avenue), points out that the reason for flooding in her locality, despite having a SWD: (a) Backflow from the low-lying area of Kamaraj Nagar; (b) Improper desilting of the SWDs; (c) No regulation on pumping out of water from residences / private institutes (d) Road gradient of certain areas laid higher than the others.

Geeta highlights that the main contributing factor the areas were waterlogged for nearly a week since the cyclone, was because of unmindful pumping out of water from residences and commercial establishments, onto the already waterlogged streets. “There are residences that have basement parking. How can such low-lying areas be granted to have basement parking? During rains, the whole of the basement gets flooded and that amount of water is let out, on the already strained roads and SWD systems. There needs to be a regulation on it,” she iterates.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department, Chennai’s rainfall did not match up to the deluge in 2015, yet the city fared poorly. A city’s civic issues must also form part of disaster management. Why should one suffer if solutions are in plain sight?

Despite the recovery in several areas of Chennai following Cyclone Michaung, residents in flood-prone regions such as Velachery, Pallikkaranai, and Chemmancheri are grappling with persistent water stagnation. Faced with a prolonged wait for government relief, proactive residents have undertaken initiatives to aid those stranded for three days, providing essential support in the form of milk, food, and drinking water.

Velachery:
In the wake of Cyclone Michaung, Dr. Ashwin Kumar and his team from the Velachery Malayalee Association sprang into action when a friend sought rescue from floodwaters in Ram Nagar, Velachery. Mobilising a private boat and his driver Justin, they discovered a broader crisis, rescuing stranded residents, including pregnant women, children, and elders. Extending their operations, they provided essentials like water, biscuits, and milk until the situation improved by Friday.

Pallikaranai:
Residents in Pallikaranai, particularly those situated behind Kamakshi Hospital, faced significant challenges during the recent cyclone. While larger communities along the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road garnered media attention, a smaller residential area behind the hospital experienced severe flooding with chest-deep water persisting for over four days. “The government’s response fell short, as neither NDRF boats nor those organised by the state government reached our locality. Despite our frantic attempts, it was only through the efforts of friends who mobilised boats that a few managed to reach us during the prolonged wait. Mr. Veerendra Mathur, a volunteer from Adyar, eventually became aware of our situation and provided essential supplies through Mr. Justin. The question arises: if they could reach us, why couldn’t the authorities?” questions Sharanya, a resident of Kesavan Street in Pallikaranai, who expresses her frustration with the lack of official assistance during their time of need.

Chemmanchery:
Chemmanchery, a rapidly developing urban community along the OMR, is no stranger to flooding. In the aftermath, knee-deep water engulfed our seven-floor apartment building with 24 units on each floor. Despite being from lower-income groups, residents had to navigate flooded roads daily for work. Power was only restored on Thursday night after a week of challenges, including hunger, water scarcity, and pest issues. Gomathi, a resident of Housing Board apartments, expressed gratitude for her employer’s compassionate gesture of sending milk and bread not just for her but for the entire flat during these trying times.

Residents in these flood-prone zones have shown resilience and initiative, offering crucial support to those stranded for days. From Velachery’s proactive efforts led by Ashwin Kumar to the challenges faced by Pallikaranai residents, exemplified by Sharanya’s frustration with official assistance, and finally, Chemmanchery’s ordeal where Gomathi highlights the kindness of her employer during challenging times — these stories underscore the importance of community-driven aid in the face of adversity.

The downpour severely impacted the areas of Velachery, OMR, Pallikaranai and north Madras, with neck deep water or more. Boats were deployed at such places to evacuate the residents; however efforts fell short of the magnitude of the impact.

In the Adyar neighbourhood, while areas of Kotturpuram and Adyar didn’t report excessive waterlogging, Sastri Nagar, Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur and beyond were badly impacted, with at least knee deep water.

The irony being that the aforementioned areas were waterlogged in the previous years and the latter, not. Kamaraj Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, reported waist-deep water extending till Dr.Radhakrishna Nagar.

Many localities waited for help / relief from Corporation and elected representatives, which came a little late. Residents of RMSM (Dr.Radhakrishnan Nagar, Marundeeswarar Nagar, Sivakamipuram, Malaviya Avenue) and RWAs of ECR staged their discontent by protesting at waterlogged areas as on main roads. “Until the last rains, there was no waterlogging, but this year has been bad. Apart from the rainwater, people are pumping out water from their apartment into the already stagnant roads. Because of this, power supply is not resumed. This needs to be regulated. We tried to reach the Corporation and they gave only empty promises,” said Geeta Padmanabhan, RMSM on Dec.6. 

Post the protests, action ensued, water cleared and power was restored. It however took days to clear the water at Kamaraj Nagar, impacting traffic at Jayanthi signal.

Geeta added that at Dr.Radhakrishna Nagar and its neighbourhood, the cause of such flooding was due to multiple reasons: (a) backlash from Kamaraj Nagar,which is a low-lying area; (b) not enough desilting done before the rains; (c) pumping of water from residence onto the main roads. The same was opined by other residents in Besant Nagar as well. 

Nonagenarian Kamakshi Subramaniyan, Besant Nagar, waded through knee deep water to move to another house for safety, “The water had a strong current and was pushing us down while we were reaching for safety. Rain water drained fast, however, pumping of water from the main roads and schools around inundated the streets again.”

Along with the views of flooding and whirring motors diverting water from one road to another, on Dec.6, one also witnessed road-blocks because of fallen trees. Zone 13 lost a total of 45 trees on Dec 4 and 5. 

Here we present some of the reactions we received: