The Federation of Varadharajapuram Welfare Association (FEDOVWA) has submitted a petition to the Kancheepuram district Collector to take steps to have the boundaries of Adyar river in Varadharajapuram surveyed, before it is widened and the height of its bunds raised.
V. Rajasekaran, president, FEDOVWA, said, “Work is under way to widen the river and increase the height of the bunds in areas coming under the jurisdiction of Varadharajapuram village panchayat. However, the work has been taken up without boundaries of the river being surveyed and marked.”
The Revenue Department should ensure this is done. Following this, the Water Resources Department of the Public Works Department should undertake the work on widening the river. At several points, the river has not been widened up to the marked boundaries.
“Increasing the height of the bunds should be done in accordance with the 1987 Field Measurement Book. The bunds should be raised up to a height of ten feet and widened up to four meters. Moreover, both the height and the width of the bunds should be even throughout the course of the river so as to prevent flooding,” the members said.
The Lower Palar Basin Division of the Water Resources Department is widening and strengthening the bunds of Adyar river, which originates at Adhanur near Guduvanchery, at a cost of Rs.19 crore for a distance of 22 km till Manapakkam.
The surplus flow of rainwater from Vandalur Eri, Mannivakkam Eri and Manimangalam Eri reaches the Adyar river canal, near Mannivakkam, through channels connecting Adyar River. The Vardadharajapuram area acts as a pooling area for the Adyar river on Outer Ring Road.
“Steps should be taken to de-silt the channels at the earliest.”
The Collector has assured the residents that necessary steps would be taken at the earliest.