Images of 2015 floods are seared into the minds of Chennai’s residents and almost every locality now has a lore of flood stories. Using the powerful imagery of this cataclysm, P. Viswanathan has started a Facebook group that seeks to promote civic consciousness among residents of Chitlapakkam. Viswanathan is convenor of Chitlapakkam Residents’ Associations Coordination Committee.
How Flood Water Entered Chitlapakkam (HFWEC), as the FB group is called, displays an image of a street under sheets of floodwater. The initiative was born out of the ordeal faced by residents of Chitlapakkam in the aftermath of the floods. Residents were encouraged to share photos of their submerged streets and houses, says Viswanathan.
Every year, when it rains heavily, residents of Chitlapakkam would be home-bound for at least 10 days due to heavy flooding, he says, adding that poor management of waterbodies, which includes lack of action against encroachments, is the reason for the flooding.
It may be noted that Sembakkam lake, Chitlapakkam lake and Selaiyur lake are found in close proximity to each other. Viswanathan says poor maintenance of water channels linking these lakes by the Water Resources Department is the major cause of flooding.
Though factors that led to the flooding of Chitlapakkam and surrounding localities, which include Selaiyur and Sembakkam, as well as the state of lakes in the region are discussed, the group also focusses on everyday peeves such as long queues at railway counters.
For example, a recent post shared an image of a railway counter with a queue of waiting commuters, during the morning rush hour at the Tambaram Sanatorium railway station.
To be a part of HFWEC, one has to visit the page and make a request to Viswanathan.