Chennai To Begin Treated Sewage Pipeline Work Near Buckingham Canal Post Clearance
The long-awaited sewage pipeline project near Buckingham Canal in South Chennai is set to commence following recent clearance from coastal regulation authorities. The initiative aims to safely transport treated effluents from Sholinganallur’s sewage treatment plant into the canal, with safeguards in place to monitor ecological impact and ensure compliance with environmental standards.
After receiving the mandatory Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, Chennai Metrowater is preparing to initiate groundwork on laying a critical pipeline to discharge treated wastewater into the Buckingham Canal. The infrastructure will channel effluents processed at the Sholinganallur sewage treatment plant (STP), a key node handling 36 million litres per day, from eleven residential localities across southern Chennai. The project, central to a broader sewerage network expansion for newly merged urban zones, was granted regulatory approval after its route was found to largely fall within designated CRZ categories. Authorities now expect to start physical works in the coming days, with a design capacity pegged at 81 million litres per day at peak flow. Officials have confirmed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has stipulated key environmental safeguards, including real-time effluent monitoring at the point of discharge and a comprehensive ecological management plan for the Buckingham Canal.
The aim is to balance infrastructural necessity with ecological integrity, particularly given the canal’s role in urban drainage and groundwater recharge. The Sholinganallur STP currently decants nearly 4 MLD of sewage from tanker lorries and is undergoing upgrades to support the additional load from nearby zones such as Karapakkam, Semmenchery, and Pallikaranai. The entire development is part of a ₹813-crore multi-location urban wastewater management initiative being executed across Chennai. Residents from canal-side neighbourhoods have voiced both concern and cautious optimism. While many stress the importance of timely and transparent water quality monitoring, others see potential in using the treated water for afforestation and preventing seawater intrusion.
Environmental specialists continue to insist that effluent samples from both the STP and canal must be frequently tested to validate claims of treated water quality. Work on the pipeline is projected to conclude in two months. Officials maintain that aligning sewer infrastructure with monsoon readiness remains crucial, especially to prevent disruption in roadworks and urban mobility across the area.
