Chennai is taking a monumental step to secure its long-term water supply with the launch of a ₹14,000 crore plan aimed at increasing its drinking water storage capacity more than threefold by 2050. The comprehensive strategy, developed by the water resources department (WRD), seeks to boost storage from the current 11 tmc to a massive 38.73 tmc to meet the city’s future needs and avert a potential crisis.
A Bold Vision to Avert Crisis
The ambitious plan, which is based on a detailed report by consultant Royal Haskoning DHV, includes 704 essential projects that have been approved for execution over the next decade. The initiatives are spread across 12 river basins, including the Chennai and Palar basins, and represent a fundamental shift in the city’s approach to water management. Rather than relying solely on its existing reservoirs, the WRD is prioritizing the restoration of smaller water bodies and the creation of new ones to build a resilient, decentralized network.
Beyond Reservoirs: Restoring Life to Water Bodies
A central component of the plan involves restoring a chain of 1,150 tanks around the city’s suburbs, including key catchment sources for the Chembarambakkam reservoir. By deepening these tanks and installing sluice gates to prevent sewage entry, the department aims to create mini-catchments that can store between 0.25 tmc and 0.5 tmc of water each. This will allow surrounding neighborhoods to become self-sufficient and reduce their dependence on major water sources.
In addition to restoring existing tanks, the WRD plans to build 12 new reservoirs in the upstream areas of the Cooum, Adyar, and Palar rivers. Each of these new reservoirs is expected to boost storage by 0.5 tmc to 1 tmc. The plan also includes two larger reservoirs at Perumbakkam and on the ECR at Salt Lake, which together could add over 4 tmc of storage, specifically to benefit the growing OMR corridor.
A Community-Based Approach
Water experts have largely welcomed the initiative but have stressed the importance of proper implementation and citizen participation. While the government focuses on large-scale projects, experts argue that household-level compliance with rainwater harvesting is crucial. By rejuvenating aquifers and enforcing such measures, the city could significantly reduce its reliance on external water sources. The plan also includes provisions to restore tanks within industrial areas, which will make them self-sufficient and alleviate the burden on the city’s main water supply.