While the Alandur civic body has cleaned up the canal till Balaji Nagar where its jurisdiction ends, the Public Works Department has removed silt and deepened the canal throughout the 2 km stretch through Puzhuthivakkam up to the Velachery MRTS junction. The canal has been cleaned up on both sides of the Inner Ring Road that is under construction.

In the previous years, the flooding of Veerangal canal caused severe problems for several areas nearby, including Ram Nagar and its extension areas in Madipakkam, parts of Puzhuthivakkam and Velachery.

Flood waters entered homes and residents had to be evacuated using inflatable boats.

This year, however, the entire stretch of the canal has been desilted besides broadening and deepening of support channels.

Local bodies in other southern suburbs have also taken similar action.

Pallavaram Municipality chairman E Karunanidhi said measures to strengthen lake bunds were being undertaken in Nemillicheri and Old Pallavaram lakes. Road repair and relaying work is under progress in Keelkattalai.

The Medavakkam Main Road is being relaid. “We are taking steps to clean up and desilt all the drains.” Tambaram Municipality chairman E Mani said drains in Mudichur Road, GST Road, Selaiyur Odai and West Irumbuliyur Gayathri Nagar are being cleaned up besides the Pappan canal. “The clean up work has begun and steps are being taken to desilt and deepen all the canals in the municipal area.”