Tamil Nadu government has directed officials to fully complete all ongoing stormwater drain works across the city by August to ensure preparedness for the upcoming northeast monsoon.

Sources from the Greater Chennai Corporation said Commissioner G S Sameeran evaluated monsoon precautionary measures, including the desiltation of canals and ponds, and the reconstruction of flood protection walls, alongside other key infrastructure projects.

Sameeran emphasised that special focus must be given to connecting missing links in the stormwater drain network. He also ordered continuous desiltation of over one lakh silt catch pits designed to block garbage and ensure the free flow of rainwater.

Accordingly, continuous desilting operations must be carried out across all 44 major waterways in the city.

Additionally, officials will clear blocks at crucial bottlenecks where stormwater drains meet canals, and where waterways discharge into the Adyar River, Cooum River and Buckingham canal.

Published on June 28, 2026