CHENNAI — The Water Resources Department (WRD) has initiated a new plan for flood mitigation and water storage improvement in Chennai with crucial financial and technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This collaboration aims to address the city’s dual challenges of perennial flooding and increasing water scarcity.
The plan focuses on restoring 28 major tanks within the city, including prominent ones like Porur, Ambattur, Kolathur, and Korattur. According to WRD Superintending Engineer M. Mahesh Nagarajan, the storage capacity of these tanks has drastically diminished due to silt deposits and the inflow of sewage. The project will involve extensive desilting and an inter-departmental effort with the Corporation and Metro Water to prevent future sewage contamination.
Meeting Future Water Demand and Flood Control
This initiative is a proactive step to secure Chennai’s water future. The city’s current drinking water demand of about 1 tmcft is projected to double within the next decade due to rapid population growth and urbanization. By enhancing the storage capacity of its natural reservoirs, the WRD hopes to not only meet this future demand but also use the restored tanks as a vital component of the city’s flood management system.
In addition to tank restoration, the WRD has also proposed the creation of four new straight-cut channels to improve water flow and reduce stagnation in the Buckingham Canal. JICA is expected to submit the detailed project report soon. In the meantime, the state has already allocated ₹31 crore for ongoing desilting work in the central canal to ease waterlogging in low-lying areas.