RTI Requests

To

Thiru. Er. R. Sudalaikannan, M.Sc.,
Public Information Officer/ Secretary-cum-General Manager,
TWAD Board,
No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.
Telephone No: 28546542
Fax No: 28548623

Respected Sir,

Over the past several years the Tamil Nadu Governments municipal officers have spent crores of rupees and executed several projects in and around Chennai, to create storm water drains in most places.

This was done to reduce water stagnation during rainy seasons and also channel all the rain water into water catchment areas to improve ground water levels. While this was a good  initiative, the reality turned out to be different.

The storm water drains have been let to be used as ‘waste water drainage’ in all areas. This led to filthy neighborhoods with sewage bad water stagnation and mosquito problems. The actual purpose is never fulfilled and the open waste water drains are posing serious health issues and reduced the living standards in all areas.

I would like to know the following information, under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

1) What is the plan for monitoring and stopping mis-use of storm-water drains as waster-water and septic drains?

2) how much money has been spent in the last 5 years for creating new  storm water drains?

3) How much money has been allocated for maintaining and cleaning existing storm water drains?

4) How many maintenance activities have been performed in neighborhoods – Chrompet, Tambaram and Pallavaram in the last year? Who performed the maintenance? Was it government employees or third party contractors? if 3rd party, please provide contractor details and invoice details for maintenance activities for the last 1 year.

5) Has the water catchment and water table improved after implementing these storm water drains?

6) for storm water drains in chrompet, pallavaram and tambaram, please list the location/address of the respective water catchment areas.

I thank the deparment for taking the proactive initiatives, but, I am dissatisfied with the lack of monitoring on these initiatives and making the neighborhood living conditions very low.

Thank you