Chennai Faces Rising Flood Risk As Wetlands Shrink And Heavy Rains Intend
Chennai is confronting escalating flood risks as shrinking wetlands and encroached water bodies struggle to absorb increasingly intense monsoon rains. Recent downpours from Cyclone Ditwah submerged northern districts, damaged homes, and disrupted daily life, underscoring persistent gaps in the city’s drainage and urban planning systems. Experts warn that without integrated flood management, including protection of wetlands and strengthened stormwater infrastructure, Chennai’s residents and critical infrastructure remain highly vulnerable to recurring climate-driven floods.
Between 2021 and 2025, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) undertook a large-scale stormwater drainage expansion, laying more than 1,140 km of drains at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore. A flagship project in the Kosasthalaiyar basin contributed 641 km of integrated drains for North Chennai, funded in part by the Asian Development Bank. Yet, experts caution that these improvements are insufficient. Encroachments along key canals and rivers, including Buckingham Canal and the Kosasthalaiyar, limit water flow, while silt accumulation reduces efficiency. High-capacity pumps have been relied on repeatedly during heavy rains, highlighting ongoing operational constraints.The Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai’s last major wetland, has been extensively encroached, with over 40% of its 21.25 sq km area illegally occupied. The National Green Tribunal recently halted construction in and around the marsh, directing stakeholders to map its boundaries and buffer zones for integration into the city master plan. This wetland plays a critical role in absorbing runoff from upstream lakes and urban stormwater. Similar vulnerabilities exist along Ennore Creek and Kosasthalaiyar wetlands, where industrial sedimentation and encroachment have reduced natural flood-buffering capacity.
Climate projections indicate worsening flood risks for Chennai, driven by intense rainfall, land-use changes, and urban expansion. Under high-emission scenarios, extreme rainfall could exceed 5,600 mm annually by 2100, overwhelming existing drainage systems. IIT Madras professor Balaji Narasimhan emphasises that fragmented management of water supply, sewage, and drainage hampers holistic planning. Consolidating responsibilities under a single agency and incorporating blue-green infrastructure alongside grey systems could strengthen resilience.Historical analyses underline the protective value of traditional water bodies. During the 2015 floods, intact upstream tanks could have reduced losses by 17% and fatalities by 12%. Urbanisation, shrinking wetlands, and short, intense rainfall events now drive flooding more than overall precipitation, challenging conventional drainage design. Experts argue that only integrated strategies combining water body protection, coordinated infrastructure management, and climate-sensitive urban development can substantially mitigate Chennai’s flood exposure.
As Chennai faces future monsoons, policymakers confront a critical choice: continue incremental upgrades or adopt a comprehensive, ecosystem-based flood management approach that safeguards residents, protects wetlands, and enhances urban resilience in the face of climate change.
