TRICHY: Trichy corporation has allocated a sum of 32.5 crore at the rate of 50 lakh per ward covering all 65 wards to develop new stormwater drains and renovate the existing open drain networks. The fund shall be utilised to execute proposals such as covering open stormwater drains with reinforced cement concrete (RCC) slabs with manholes to enable safe pavements for pedestrians on arterial roads with provisions to remove silt accumulated periodically.
Trichy corporation for the first time, in the recent budget 2023-24 made equal fund allocations for all 65 wards to take up the drain works including proposals to cover the open drains with pedestrian slabs. Using the fund, each ward can propose works to develop new drains in flood-prone areas.
“Even in the major commercial streets such as Thillai Nagar, slabs are missing on the open drains. Despite the space available for pavement, pedestrians had to walk on the road as the drains were not covered,” K P Rangaprasad, joint-secretary, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam said.
While the drain networks in area-based development (ABD) localities were renovated under the smart cities programme at 47.3 crores in 2019-20, officials said some of the prominent roads in the city still require drains with covered slabs to drain surplus water and serve as a pavement. The fund allocation of 50 lakhs per ward was sanctioned under the general funds of the urban local body. The elected councillors and junior engineers in the wards will suggest construction works at deserving locations. “Importance will be given for improving the drain infrastructure across the city. Before the onset of next monsoon, we would complete the desilting works and cover the open drains with RCC slabs,” a senior official with Trichy Corporation said.
According to the urban local body, the city has a total drain network for a length of 749.7 km.
The civic body has been allocating funds to construct new drains and redevelop existing ones for the entire city without any specific allocation for the zones or wards. As a result, some of the wards felt left out without adequate funds every year.
