Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation plans to set up two more 2 lakh litre water storage sumps at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dumpyards for ₹54.3 lakh.Fire has broke out five times this year, between March and June. The first incident was reported at Kodungaiyur on March 14, followed by two incidents at Perungudi on June 4 and 15, and two more at Kodungaiyur on June 21 and 26. Each time, GCC had to rush in water tankers and excavators.GCC superintending engineer (solid waste management) P Banukumar said the existing water storage capacity at the dumpyards was limited. “Earlier, we had a storage capacity of 1 lakh litres. We want to increase this to ensure adequate water is available on-site so it can be pumped out quickly during emergencies.” Tenders for water tanks were floated in July and bids will be closed by Friday, officials said.The additional storage will also reduce dependence on water tankers and external sources during firefighting operations. “The sumps will allow staff to draw water directly from the site during a blaze,” he said. Additionally, 38 CCTV cameras — 20 at Kodungaiyur and 18 at Perungudi — are connected to GCC’s integrated command and control centre (ICCC) for surveillance.“Fire spreads quickly, especially during summer. Given the size of the area, we need to wait and see if the water storage will be sufficient,” said a resident, Sanjeevan P, who lives near the dumpyard. “Staff at the dumpyard must to be trained to douse a fire,” he said.Climate activist and member of Chennai wetland action collective, K Raju, said recurring fires cannot be solved through engineering fixes alone, calling for a nature-oriented approach. “They must expedite the biomining process and follow source segregation protocols,” he said. The authorities also need to prioritise protection of floodplains and marshlands, said Raju.
