Proactive flood-prevention measures undertaken by the Greater Chennai Corporation have yielded significant results, with newly expanded stormwater ponds successfully averting waterlogging in several key areas during the recent Cyclone Ditwah rains. Neighbourhoods including Guindy, Five Furlong Road, Maduvankarai, and Velachery reported no flooding, marking a dramatic improvement from previous monsoon seasons.
Pre-Monsoon Preparations Pay Off
Ahead of the northeast monsoon, the civic body executed an extensive series of works aimed at mitigating urban flooding. This comprehensive strategy involved constructing new stormwater drains, creating additional water retention ponds, desilting and restoring existing waterbodies, improving water channels, and installing rainwater harvesting structures in public parks and spaces.
The focus was particularly sharp on the Guindy Race Course campus. Here, the corporation first enhanced two existing ponds last year. These ponds, which originally had a combined storage capacity of 14,070 cubic metres (0.50 million cubic feet), were widened and deepened. This intervention boosted their total holding capacity to 19,560 cubic metres (0.69 million cubic feet).
Doubling Down on Water Storage
In a parallel move last year, the authorities also created four brand-new ponds within the same campus. These fresh waterbodies were built with an initial storage capacity of 1,10,800 cubic metres (3.91 million cubic feet). Recognising their effectiveness, the corporation decided to further amplify this capacity as a key monsoon preparedness measure this year.
The capacity of these four ponds was doubled. Spread across a vast area of 49,072 square metres, they were expanded to now store a staggering 2,45,360 cubic metres (8.66 million cubic feet) of water. This enhancement enables a total rainwater storage potential of 24.53 crore litres, creating a massive buffer against heavy rainfall.
A Tangible Impact During the Cyclone
The efficacy of this infrastructural investment was put to the test during the downpour brought by Cyclone Ditwah. Officials confirmed that all four of the expanded ponds filled up completely, successfully holding back enormous volumes of surface runoff that would have otherwise inundated streets and homes.
As a direct consequence, residents in Guindy, Maduvinkarai, Velachery, the TNHB quarters in Velachery, and along the Five Furlong Road stretch experienced no flooding. This outcome provided much-needed relief and stood in stark contrast to the waterlogging problems that have plagued these densely populated areas in past monsoons.
Corporation officials highlighted that the integrated system of ponds and drains proved highly effective in preventing water accumulation. The successful intervention underscores the importance of sustained pre-monsoon planning and infrastructure development in building urban resilience against extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly common.
