As Chennai braces for the northeast monsoon, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has launched a citywide flood-mitigation initiative worth ₹38 crore, targeting high-risk areas across both urban and suburban stretches. The initiative covers desilting major rivers, widening river bunds, removing encroachments around water bodies, and improving flow at estuarine outlets to reduce monsoon-related inundation.
With a mid-September deadline in place, officials have initiated over 195 micro- and macro-level projects across Chennai and the adjoining districts of Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpet. About 78 works are underway within the city’s 15 zones, while 117 additional projects are active in the suburbs. These include desilting operations along the Adyar, Cooum and Buckingham Canal waterways, as well as sandbar removal at key estuaries in Muttukadu, Ennore, Pulicat, and Poonthottam. Senior government officials, led by the secretary of the Water Resources Department, have begun inspecting flood-prone sites to expedite implementation. They are also coordinating with agencies such as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater), and the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC) to streamline overlapping responsibilities, especially along arterial routes like Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
In a significant intervention, the WRD is widening the Kosasthalaiyar River and strengthening bunds at Vadaperumbakkam and Sayankuppam—areas repeatedly affected by seasonal flooding that disrupts the lives of over 10,000 residents. Officials stated that breaches in surplus channels from Puzhal Lake tend to overflow into Kosasthalaiyar at critical junctions. The ongoing bund reinforcement, which involves a three-metre elevation in select stretches, is expected to reduce pressure from simultaneous discharges, particularly from Poondi reservoir. Meanwhile, the department has commenced the clearance of around 100 encroachments from suburban lakes such as those near Chitlapakkam and Radial Road. These efforts are integral to long-term water retention and flood absorption planning as part of a broader eco-resilience strategy.
An official from the State Disaster Management Authority noted that WRD has handed over major macro drains to GCC for expedited desilting. One official highlighted bottlenecks, including infrastructure from drinking water utilities obstructing desilting on OMR, but confirmed the work would be completed before August end. With pre-monsoon meetings underway, the Deputy Mayor stated that the upcoming review by the Deputy Chief Minister would require updates on constituency-wise progress. Local MLAs have also been tasked with ground inspections to ensure timely implementation.
While systemic challenges remain, including coordination across civic bodies and infrastructural constraints, officials say the comprehensive push offers a significant step towards improving Chennai’s climate resilience and monsoon preparedness.
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