Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Chennai Corporation Expands Monsoon Preparedness Measures Across The City
Chennai is getting ready for the northeast monsoon, which can bring heavy rain.
The city corporation is cleaning many stormwater drains so rainwater can flow away.
It is also clearing waterways, canals and rivers.
More than 1,300 pumps will be used to remove water from flooded areas.
Pumps have been placed in several subways as well.
The corporation has boats, relief centres and community kitchens ready to help people.
Workers have also trimmed branches from more than 60,000 trees to reduce risks.
Special machines and rescue equipment are standing by.
Residents can report problems through the 1913 helpline, which will operate all day and night.
Greater Chennai Corporation has desilted 1,102 of Chennai’s 1,683 kilometres of stormwater drains.
The civic body plans to deploy 1,320 motor pumps, including 670 rented pumps, to remove rainwater.
Desilting and water-hyacinth removal are under way across waterways, canals, rivers and Buckingham Canal.
GCC has prepared 36 boats, 215 relief centres and 111 community kitchens for emergencies.
A ₹100 crore allocation, round-the-clock helpline and command centres support the monsoon response.
- Who
- The Greater Chennai Corporation, led in the inspection by Commissioner Dr G.S. Sameeran.
- What
- The corporation has expanded drain cleaning, waterway improvements, pumping capacity and emergency response preparations.
- When
- Ahead of the northeast monsoon; the inspection took place on Wednesday, and tree-pruning figures cover January 1 to September 21.
- Where
- Across Chennai, including the Adyar estuary, stormwater drains, waterways, subways and water bodies.
- Why
- To improve rainwater flow, reduce waterlogging and support rescue and relief operations during the monsoon.
- Stormwater drains desilted
- 1,102 kilometres of a 1,683-kilometre network
- Planned motor pumps
- 1,320, including 650 GCC-owned and 670 rented pumps
- Prepared water collection tanks
- 109 tanks equipped with motor pumps
- Monsoon allocation
- ₹100 crore
- Emergency boats
- 36 boats kept ready by GCC, with 256 additional boats available from the fisheries department
- Relief facilities
- 215 relief centres and 111 community kitchens
- Public helpline
- GCC’s 1913 helpline will operate round the clock