Implementing a government scheme is no easy task. From evicting encroachments to land acquisition, numerous hurdles delay implementation of a government project, particularly if it is a road widening or flyover project.
The Rs 633 crore macro-drainage project executed by the state PWD is one such project hampered by encroachments.
Over 2,000 encroachments apparently hampered the execution of several parts of the project aimed at preventing floods in Chennai, the most significant among them being improvements to the Otteri Nullah, North Buckingham Canal, Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam Canal and diversion channel from Maduravoyal Tank to Cooum River. Some affected parties have even moved courts, delaying eviction of encroachments indefinitely.
Senior state PWD officials told DC that 847 structures, mostly individual houses, were encroaching on the land required to improve the Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal.
The scenario is even worse for the construction of the 1.46-km long diversion canal from Maduravoyal Tank to Cooum River with majority of the 517 encroachments being TN Slum Clearance Board tenements. The Maduravoyal tank work has not been started even due to the encroachments.
Only 1.92 km of the total 10.7 km of the Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam canal has been improved. Similarly, work on only 5.1 km of the 11.68 km Otteri Nullah in the north basin was completed till late June.
Curiously, the government set September 30 as the deadline to finish the macro-drainage project. But, PWD officials, admit it would be almost impossible to complete these projects that hit roadblocks within the deadline.
The department was, however, not averse to providing some arrangements to spare areas affected by the projects during the northeast monsoon that brings most of the rain to the Chennai region.