Experts from Anna University to offer solution for waterlogging

Coimbatore: The city corporation has decided to rope in experts from the Anna University to solve the waterlogging at the underpasses in the city.
Corporation commissioner M Prathap said the experts would study Avinashi Road flyover underpass, Kikkani school underpass and Lanka Corner underpass and offer solutions. He said they would also look into the soil formation at the underpasses to decide on the kind of structure to be created to drain the rainwater.
The civic body had formed a committee comprising corporation and external engineers and members of the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore to study the issue and suggest solutions last year, when the city witnessed extensive waterlogging during the northeast monsoon. The committee subsequently submitted its report in a few weeks.
A corporation official said measures like cleaning of nearby canals and drains, construction of rainwater harvesting structures and installation of pumps to clear the rainwater were taken as per the report tabled by the committee.
“While these measures haven’t helped address the issue of waterlogging, the time taken for the rainwater to recede has come down to two hours from eight hours. It, however, still takes time to clear the sludge brought by the rainwater, which gets mixed with sewage water. The issue cannot be solved unless some innovative project is carried out at the underpasses,” he said.