Chennai, Aug 3 (NationPress) As the northeast monsoon approaches, the Tamil Nadu government is accelerating flood mitigation projects in Chennai and its surrounding areas, with a target to finalize all ongoing initiatives by September 15.

The Water Resources Department (WRD), responsible for these efforts, is executing 195 projects backed by a budget of Rs 38 crore. These initiatives aim to enhance the city's flood readiness and reduce the adverse effects of seasonal rains that have inflicted substantial damage in earlier years.

On Saturday, WRD Secretary J. Jayakanthan conducted a thorough inspection of various project sites throughout the region, accompanied by senior engineers and departmental officials.

The review included a comprehensive examination of the proposed Integrated Control Centre, which is set to function as the main hub for flood management during the monsoon.

This centre will feature satellite-based monitoring systems and real-time surveillance tools to oversee water levels in rivers, canals, and lakes throughout the city and its suburbs.

Among the 195 flood mitigation projects underway, 78 are situated within 15 zones of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, while 117 are in suburban districts such as Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu. These efforts are vital for ensuring unobstructed water flow through drainage systems and preventing flooding in low-lying residential areas.

Major interventions involve desilting and clearing accumulated debris from key waterways like the Buckingham Canal (19 projects), Cooum River (19), and Adyar River (5).

Additionally, 35 initiatives focus on decongesting blocked stormwater drains, surplus channels, lakes, and other flood-sensitive regions.

To facilitate these operations, the department has deployed 234 floating excavators and a significant fleet of lorries to clear water hyacinth, floating plastics, and other waste hindering water flow.

Desilting activities are also in progress at major river mouths and estuaries, including Muttukadu, Pudupattinam, Ennore, Pulicat, as well as the mouths of the Cooum and Adyar Rivers, ensuring efficient outflow during heavy rainfall. Officials state that these collective efforts aim to bolster resilience in anticipation of the northeast monsoon and avert a recurrence of past flood crises in the city and adjoining areas.