Desilting of stormwater drains is under way with a target completion date of October 10, according to Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who inspected the ongoing Northeast monsoon preparedness works across Chennai zones on Saturday.

Desilting was also under way in Buckingham Canal at 18 locations, Cooum River at 14 locations, and internal canals in Coimbatore, Trichy, and Madurai, he added.

A review meeting through video conferencing would be chaired by the Chief Secretary on September 29 with all district collectors. Ministers and IAS officers were appointed as monitoring officers for Chennai zones, he said.

Addressing a press meet, Mr. Bedi stated that all local bodies across Tamil Nadu were directed by the Chief Minister to maintain full readiness to face the Northeast monsoon. In Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) limits, approximately one lakh silt catch pits were desilted in the first phase, and second-phase works were ongoing, he said.

The Water Resources Department allocated ₹42 crore to prevent blockages at river mouths. Dredging operations using specialised machinery were under way at the Cooum river mouth, Adyar, Muthukadu, and North Chennai regions, continuing through December and January, he added.

Barricades at drain work sites were compulsory, and a joint technical committee was formed to set up temporary drains and water pumps at 20 to 30 Metro Rail work locations, he said.

Mr. Bedi reviewed the 5.10-kilometre stormwater drain project, for which 3.15 kilometres were completed, on Mogappair Road in Valasaravakkam zone. The project is worth ₹130 crore. He also inspected the 2.5-kilometre drain work, of which 2 kilometres were finished, at Korattur junction in Ambattur zone costing ₹44 crore, and the 1.16-kilometre integrated drain project on Madhavaram Redhills Road, costing ₹18 crore in Madhavaram zone, of which 1.03 kilometres were completed.

Later, he inspected the Ganesapuram flyover construction costing ₹226.55 crore and rainwater collection well works in the Ganesapuram subway in Tondiarpet zone. He also reviewed sand-bar removal using a dredger at the Cooum river mouth near Napier Bridge and river restoration works. Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran and senior officials were present.