Clearly, residents of Mudichur and Varadharajapuram do not want a repeat of ‘December 2015.’ Residents of these areas, along with those from Rayappa Nagar, Mahalakshmi Nagar, Shanthi Nikethan, Ashtalakshmi Nagar, PTC Quarters, and Kumaran Nagar, and Amudham Nagar, have appealed to the Water Resources Department to heighten the bunds of the Adyar river.
The WRD is desilting and widening the Adyar river at a cost of ₹19 crore. As part of the restoration work, the bunds of the river would also be strengthened.
V. Rajasekaran, president, Federation of Varadharajapuram Welfare Association (FEDOVWA), says, “The desilting of Adyar river and the formation of bunds should be done in accordance with the 1987 Field Measurement Book. The bunds should be raised to a height of 7ft and widened for 14mt. However, at a few points that fall under the jurisdiction of Varadharajapuram village panchayat, the bunds have been raised only up to 4ft and in a few other places they are less than 4ft. At some points, the bunds have widened up to 14ft. The height and the width of the bunds should be even throughout the course of the river to prevent flooding in Mudichur and Varadharajapuram.
Residents said the works should be completed before the onset of northeast monsoon. “Steps must be taken to construct rainwater inlets around the premises of residential houses, abutting the river, to prevent flooding. The inlets should be connected to the river for replenishing the groundwater table,” he added.
Residents also said the bridge below the river connecting Amudham Nagar and Rayappa Nagar should be heightened. There are no bunds on both the sides of the river below the bridge.