Chennai is gearing up for a massive water crunch, and the Water Resources Department (WRD) is stepping in with a whopping Rs 14,000-crore plan to tackle it head-on. By 2050, the city’s drinking water needs could triple, jumping from the current 11 tmc to a whopping 38.73 tmc, according to a Chennai Corporation feasibility report. To fight this, the WRD has greenlit 704 key projects out of 1,165 suggestions, all set to roll out over the next 10 years. These initiatives focus on Chennai water conservation, lake restoration, and building new reservoirs to keep the taps flowing.
The big push? Reviving around 1,150 tanks in Chennai’s suburban areas across 12 basins, including the vital Chennai and Palar regions. Picture this: a chain of 350 tanks in spots like Thenneri, Sriperumbudur, Thirunindravur, Manimangalam, and Pillaipakkam, all feeding into the Chembarambakkam catchment. Plus, 64 tanks along the bustling OMR stretch—think Narayanapuram, Thalambur, Semmenchery, and Nanmangalam. Turning these into mini catchments will ramp up storage and cut down on neighborhoods relying solely on the city’s main reservoirs. It’s a smart move for sustainable Chennai water supply.
On top of that, the plan includes 12 new reservoirs upstream along the Cooum, Adyar, and Palar rivers. They’ve pinpointed sites in Thiruverkadu and Poonamallee for the Cooum basin, and four villages near the Palar. Each one could store 0.5 to 1 tmc of water, making a real dent in the demand.
But wait, there’s more—three major reservoirs are in the works too. One sits on Salt Lake along the East Coast Road, adding 2 tmc, and another sprawls across 300 acres of government land near Perumbakkam, holding up to 2.25 tmc. These will trap water for the OMR belt and ease flooding into the Pallikaranai marsh, boosting flood control in Chennai.
To recharge groundwater and keep reserves healthy, the team plans 402 structures along river bunds. They’ll also revive about 200 tanks in industrial zones like Irungattukottai, Oragadam, and Pillaipakkam. This could slash Metrowater’s load by 115 MLD, easing pressure on the city’s main supply.
Linking basins is another clever twist: they’ll divert water from Adyar to Palar and channel Kosasthalaiyar flows into the Cooum. Experts say Chennai gets plenty of rain each year, so success hinges on restoring tanks, lakes, and aquifers while pushing rainwater harvesting. If it all clicks, this Chennai water management plan could turn the tide on the looming shortage.
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