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Chennai Water Project Sparks Environmental Row
23 Feb
Summary
- Uthandi cut-canal project faces public and environmental concerns.
- Coastal Zone Management Authority seeks detailed reports from WRD.
- Project aims for flood mitigation but risks ecosystem damage.
A proposed flood mitigation project, the Uthandi cut-canal, faces significant delays and opposition in Chennai. The District Coastal Zone Management Authority (DCZMA) has requested comprehensive details from the Water Resources Department (WRD). These include reports on water quality, action taken on public complaints, and an assessment of environmental impacts.
The project, intended to alleviate flooding on the city's outskirts during monsoons, has been stalled for months. Preliminary work halted as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance was not obtained. Residents have raised alarms about potential groundwater contamination, damage to the coastal ecosystem, and impacts on local livelihoods. They also cited the area as a significant turtle nesting ground.
The DCZMA specifically requires a report from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) concerning the discharge of overflow water, erosion mitigation, and marine ecosystem effects. WRD officials state that many requested details have been submitted and that seasonal studies are being arranged, asserting that the beach ecosystem will not be damaged. However, the director of the department of environment and climate change confirmed that CRZ clearance has not yet been granted as of January 2026.
