CHENNAI: People living in inundated areas of the city for the last eight days could now heave a sigh of relief as Chennai Metro water has procured 35 pumpsets from a private agency and four municipal corporations to de-water the localities.
Residents in most parts of the city are still wading into stagnant water and many areas are without power.
A Metro Water spokesman said 20 submersible pumpsets were procured from CRI group would be used to de-water the areas of Manali, Tondiarpet, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam and Valasarvakkam.
Trichy municipal commissioner M Vijaylakshmi, Salem municipal commissioner K R Selvaraj and Vellore municipal commissioner P Janaki had arranged for seven electrical pumpsets and eight diesel pumpsets.
Meanwhile, in Valasaravakkam neighbourhood, people have to live without power due to inundation for the eighth consecutive day. “The NDRF personnel have identified Vembulli Amman Kovil street as the deepest part and are draining out water from there. But, this would take time as they have blocked a nearby pond. This would result in water not draining out from many areas, said Veena Ramakrishnan, a resident of Veerappan Nagar. Officials should look into building a separate canal to let out the water,” she added.