Chennai, August 30: Residents of Vyasarpadi’s Shastri Nagar are increasingly worried about flooding as continuous rainfall has severely obstructed the canal with water hyacinth and debris.
A section of the Vyasarpadi canal along Shastri Nagar First Street is covered with water hyacinth, leaving little room for water to flow. The canal resembles a green carpet, with stagnant water underneath contributing to foul odors and an increase in mosquitoes and pests.
Local residents report that the aquatic weeds have been spreading uncontrollably for several months. With intermittent rain in the city, there are fears that heavy downpours could lead to flooding in nearby streets and homes.
The situation has been further complicated by the construction of a bridge on Anna Salai in Shastri Nagar. Some parts of the waterway near the bridge have become blocked due to construction work, slowing drainage and causing rainwater to accumulate in First Street and surrounding residential areas.
Residents have noted that trash is also being dumped near the canal at night, exacerbating the blockage. They have urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to clear the water hyacinth and accumulated waste before the city experiences heavy rainfall.
One resident stated, “Water hyacinth has been growing here for the past five months. Some people even throw garbage by the canal at night, which further disrupts water flow. The smell and mosquito problem are a daily nuisance.”
Another resident, Nagmani, mentioned that construction work has obstructed water flow in certain areas, resulting in rainwater pooling in residential zones.
He called for temporary measures to ensure uninterrupted drainage until the construction is completed.
Residents warned that delayed action could create dual problems for public health and civic life. Besides the risk of flooding in homes, prolonged water stagnation could create favorable conditions for mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases.
A senior official from the corporation stated that work on one side of the bridge on Anna Salai has been completed, while construction on the other side is ongoing.
The corporation has requested a robotic excavator to remove dense vegetation from the canal. The official noted that the campaign to clear the water hyacinth will commence as soon as the equipment arrives on-site.
However, local residents want the canal to be cleaned immediately to restore water flow before another round of heavy rain hits.
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