A new light on British-era stormwater drains in Madras
The HinduViswanathan Venkataraman, who is pursuing a doctorate on the history of water supply and drainage infrastructure in colonial era Madras city with the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the Department of History, King’s College London, says British-era stormwater drains suffered from the same scourge afflicting SWD networks today: Lack of maintenance. According to Viswanathan, the city had only 20 miles of masonry stormwater drains, mainly in George Town, by 1940 as against a total road mileage of 480. “Given these inadequacies, we need to be wary of nostalgic views that see British era drainage in the city as something that has stood the test of time,” says the Adambakkam resident. To a question on what the city can do to maintain an inventory of old drains and maps, Viswanathan says the Greater Chennai Corporation could initiate a project of bringing together all old reports, drawings, maps on water supply and drainage in the areas under its jurisdiction.
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