Uncleared Desilted Sludge Lined Chennai Streets, Sparking Rat and Snake Concerns

Desilted sludge piled along Chennai’s roads has sparked health and safety worries as rain approaches.

What Happened

Silt cleared from canals and stormwater drains was left in piles near Sathyam Theatre, Velachery Lake, Nandanam Canal and parts of Anna Nagar. In Thirumoorthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, resident K. Murali said at least 30 rats came out of the cleaned drains and damaged his compound wall. He called the 1913 helpline, received no reply for days, later sent a video to the corporation’s zonal office, but no action was taken. A Nandanam resident reported finding two snake skins in the sludge that remained for days. After a complaint, the Greater Chennai Corporation removed some silt, but the muck was not fully cleared. The Forest Department was informed but could not locate the reptiles.

Reaction

Mayor R. Priya warned that leaving silt unattended defeats the purpose of desilting because the sand can flow back into drains, and she said she would ask officials to act. During a September council meeting, councillors also raised the roadside dumping issue. GCC officials said the waste would be taken to the Perungudi or Kodungaiyur dumpyards.

Context

Such piles can become breeding grounds for rodents and attract snakes, especially before the monsoon, raising public‑health risks and undoing flood‑control work.