The Times of India 04.11.2009
Despite monsoon ban, North Usman Road is being dug up
CHENNAI: Despite the city corporation's ban on all utility departments digging roads, effective October 1, a contractor engaged by the civic agency is now at work on North Usman Road, digging the road near the flyover, to construct a storm water drain.
During the pre-monsoon preparedness meet convened in September, a high-level team led by mayor M Subramanian and commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni had advised departments such as Metrowater and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to halt digging of roads as it could prove to be dangerous to motorists during the rain.
Ironically, the corporation's own contractors are not adhering to the rule despite the north-east monsoon setting in last week. In the past two days, contract labourers have dug up North Usman Road. "Our target is a 150-metre stretch. We will finish digging the portion up to Bazullah Road in a fortnight. Construction of concrete drains will soon begin," workers at the site said.
The work began at the junction of Murugesan Street and North Usman Road a few days ago. The worst-hit are pedestrians and motorists as mounds of dug-out earth have narrowed the arterial road. "A large number of vehicles pile up at the end of the flyover where the service lane begins. There is no policeman to regulate the traffic, which is getting from bad to worse," said Arunachalam, a resident.
When contacted, officials said the work could not be executed during the festival season as police had denied permission. "The work will help alleviate the sufferings of locals; it will be completed soon," said a senior official.
The labourers will dig up to a depth of at least six feet, to lay a reinforced cement concrete drain. The floodwater run-off will reach Venkatnarayana Road before moving to the Mambalam canal and the Adyar river. The drain was a pressing need, said sources, as the residential colonies near the arterial road got flooded even after a drizzle.
"Corporation officials should not have allowed people to dig the road in the first place as rains will wreak havoc. Work should have begun before the rainy season or after. Elderly citizens and schoolchildren are the worst affected," said Kamala Govindarajan of Hanumantha Street.
