Chennai: Ahead of the northeast monsoon, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) floated tenders to desilt and reconstruct compound walls and fencing at major water bodies, including Virugambakkam Canal, Otteri Nullah, and Captain Cotton Canal.

The walls will be raised up to five feet to prevent waste dumping and control excess water overflow during intense rainfall. The local body allocated 207 crore for desilting and strengthening the bunds of various canals in the city."Recently, tenders were floated for desilting and wall raising at Otteri Nullah and Virugambakkam Canal at an estimated cost of 95 crore, of which 35 crore was contributed by the KfW fund.

However, full-depth desilting cannot be carried out, as backwater would flow into the canals. Once these major water bodies are desilted, it will help prevent inundation in the city during the rainy season," said a senior GCC official."The compound walls will be raised by five feet, and fencing will also be installed to prevent the public from dumping waste in several canals, including Otteri Nullah, Virugambakkam Canal, Captain Cotton Canal, Nandanam Canal, Mambalam Canal, and Jafferkhanpet Canal," the official added. The work order is expected to be issued within a week, with work commencing shortly thereafter.

GCC has already begun desilting and bed lining a few canals, including Trustpuram Canal, ahead of the monsoon. "We are also focusing on the discharge points in the Cooum and Adyar rivers," said GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.