Chennai, September 29: The Water Resources Department (WRD) has accelerated monsoon preparedness works across Chennai and neighbouring districts, with nearly half of the ₹42 crore programme completed. However, extensive growth of water hyacinth and continued sewage inflow into waterways remain major concerns for residents ahead of the Northeast monsoon.
The annual exercise covers the removal of floating waste, debris, sandbars and aquatic weeds from major and minor waterways and water bodies across Chennai, surrounding districts and Cuddalore. Of the 528.44 km of waterways covered by the programme about 104.74 km falls within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits.
Around 400 machines, including amphibious floating excavators, have been deployed to clear waterways such as the Adyar, Cooum, Kosasthalaiyar and Araniyar rivers, as well as the Buckingham Canal.
The WRD expects to complete the first phase of desilting by the first week of October. Officials said the work could reduce flooding in rivers and backflow into micro drains by around 70% to 80% during the monsoon. The department has also assessed that the waterways would be capable of handling flows associated with rainfall of up to 200 mm in a day without spillover.
Work is also under way to clear sandbars at the mouths of the Adyar and Cooum rivers, Araniyar, the Muttukadu Kovalam estuary and the Pudupattinam sea mouth. Officials said controlled opening of river mouths is being carried out to facilitate tidal movement and limit seawater intrusion.
The monsoon preparedness programme will continue until the end of the year in coordination with the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local bodies, alongside other flood mitigation projects.
Residents, however, have stressed that periodic cleaning alone will not address the underlying problems. They have called for measures to stop sewage from entering waterways, arguing that sewage pollution encourages the growth of aquatic vegetation and contributes to the accumulation of waste.
K. Mohan, a rower and resident of Thiruvanmiyur, said restoration efforts along the Adyar, including increased tree cover and widening near the creek, need to be supported by regular maintenance. He also highlighted the need to remove floating waste around trash booms and maintain the barriers so that solid waste and aquatic weeds do not move towards the sea.
Residents have further urged authorities to clear water hyacinth from culverts to ensure the uninterrupted movement of floodwater.
In Velachery, resident Geetha Ganesh called for desilting of Velachery Lake and Veerangal Odai to improve their water holding capacity. She also stressed the need to stop sewage inflow to control excessive vegetation and support groundwater recharge.
With the Northeast monsoon approaching, the ongoing works are aimed at improving the capacity and flow of Chennai’s waterways, while residents say long term sewage and waste management measures will be essential to sustain the benefits of periodic desilting and cleaning.