Chennai:
The Chennai industrial community has suffered a huge loss of over 500 crore due to floods. Left to fend for themselves they are now building mini dams to keep waters at bay.
Chennai's industrial and information technology corridors provide technology solutions around the world. Many criticise authorities for not making scientifically designed storm water drains to fight flooding.
"We have great technology but the city has not been planned," says K Sridhar, MD, Xteam.
PS Ramesh, former president, Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association (AIEMA) says, "Many manufacturers are looking at new vendors as we defaulted, this would affect the entire industrial community here."
Many criticise authorities for not making scientifically designed storm water drains to fight flooding
Mr Ramesh's dye unit is still in waters. In the last two weeks, he has lost 16 lakh rupees. His neighbour Venu, who supplies equipment to cement manufacturers around the world, lost 30 lakh.
"In my company alone there's a loss of 30 lakh," said G Venu, Managing Director of RC Das Engineering Pvt Ltd.
"I've suffered 16 lakh production loss and lots of my equipment are in waters now," rued E Ramesh, Partner, Alca Tec.
D Padmanabhan, Willpowers Engineers, feels "We are not vote bank, that's why we are neglected
However authorities blame it on an overflowing lake and ponds that dot the area. They, however said that they are working on a permanent solution.