Chennai’s Kodungaiyur canal, once a critical waterway for stormwater management, is now heavily clogged due to garbage encroachments and untreated leachate from the city’s daily waste, significantly impacting the Kosasthalaiyar River and aggravating monsoon flooding in surrounding neighbourhoods. The canal, which links several residential areas, has become a conduit for pollutants, threatening public health and environmental sustainability.
Every day, over 6,000 tonnes of solid waste are dumped at the Kodungaiyur site. Rainwater mixing with this waste generates a chemical-laden leachate that flows unchecked through the canal system, reaching the Link Canal at Ezhil Nagar, the Captain Cotton Canal, and the north Buckingham Canal before ultimately entering the Kosasthalaiyar River. Environmental experts highlight that untreated leachate can contaminate groundwater and pose severe health risks to nearby communities. Clay liners or similar containment measures are absent at the site, allowing leachate to infiltrate surrounding water sources. “Any type of wet waste can produce leachate when combined. Without proper treatment, it contaminates both canals and groundwater, directly affecting thousands of residents,” explained a former scientist with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
Residents allege that municipal staff sometimes push garbage into the canal, worsening obstructions and flooding. Physical encroachments in the form of walls around the dumpyard have altered the canal’s natural flow, causing water to spill into neighbourhoods such as MKB Nagar and Muthamil Nagar. During peak monsoon, floodwaters reportedly reach chest level, impacting more than 10,000 people residing near the canal. Community representatives have repeatedly raised concerns about unplanned construction and improper waste management. “The walls built without planning block the natural course of the canal and exacerbate flooding,” said a local residents association official. Despite repeated complaints, municipal interventions have been limited to occasional garbage clearance, leaving the canal’s flow heavily obstructed.
Chennai’s civic authorities have acknowledged the issue and outlined plans to widen the Kodungaiyur canal to improve drainage and reduce flood risks. A regional deputy commissioner noted that encroachment cases will be examined as part of a larger effort to rehabilitate the canal while balancing urban development with environmental safety. Officials emphasised that sustainable solutions, including proper leachate management and regular canal maintenance, are necessary to safeguard both public health and the river ecosystem. The Kodungaiyur canal situation underscores the challenges of urban planning in rapidly growing cities, where waste management, encroachments, and environmental protection intersect. Experts urge immediate measures to prevent further deterioration of water systems and to ensure equitable, eco-friendly infrastructure that protects residents and urban ecosystems alike.
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