Seminar on Waterways in Chennai, 4th & 5th March 2010, Proceedings and Recommendations

Purpose and coverage

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority proceedings record discussions and recommendations from the Seminar on Waterways in Chennai, held on 4 and 5 March 2010. The seminar examined the Kosathaliyar, Coovum and Adyar rivers, the Buckingham Canal, lakes, drainage systems, creeks and estuaries in the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

The publication identifies annual urban flooding, reduced waterway widths, encroachments, untreated sewage and sullage, solid waste dumping, and lack of periodic desilting as major problems. It calls for coordinated action by the Public Works Department, Corporation of Chennai, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Revenue Department, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, local bodies, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Directorate of Environment.

Main recommendations

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority seminar recommendations include:

• Treating each river basin, rather than only the river channel, as a planning unit.
• Prioritising flood alleviation, pollution prevention, removal of encroachments and obstructions, restoration, improvement and continuing maintenance.
• Dividing river conservation into short term, medium term and long term measures.
• Increasing storage capacity in lakes and other water bodies.
• Examining river widening, flood plains, green belts, parks, walkways and biodiversity areas where possible.
• Stopping unauthorised discharges and preventing untreated sewage or sullage from entering watercourses.
• Closely monitoring waterway pollution through the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
• Using scientific landfill methods to reduce groundwater pollution.
• Protecting government department lands along watercourses from encroachment.
• Considering eco-engineering, groundwater recharge structures and decentralised sewage treatment.

Relevance to property owners and occupants

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority recommendations are particularly relevant to land adjoining rivers, canals, lakes, flood plains and drainage channels. Proposed widening, flood management, pollution controls, encroachment removal or restoration work could be relevant to owners or occupants in such locations, although the proceedings do not identify individual survey numbers or approve action against a particular property.

For slums along waterways, the recommendations support resettlement and rehabilitation where continued occupation is unsafe because of flooding or environmental concerns. Rehabilitation schemes are recommended to include infrastructure, education, transport and livelihood facilities. The proceedings also encourage the use of available planning concessions to increase housing for affected groups.