The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has rolled out an initiative to install 311 metres of trash booms at eight major canal junctions in the Tondiarpet Zone, to intercept floating waste before it travels downstream to join major waterbodies.
The booms will be fixed at Vysarpadi Canal, Jawahar Canal, at two points in the northern part of Buckingham Canal, and at points near TVK Link Road, MGR Nagar, below the IOCL Bridge, and near Bharathi Nagar, according to the Storm Water Drain Department of the GCC.
Each boom unit will float with at least 80 cm of its structure above water. Officials said its components were made from corrosion-resistant materials, such as treated aluminum or galvanised steel, so there is little chance of structural degradation due to rust or water damage.
An official added: “The booms will be held in place with anchors roughly three metres from the bank. They’re built to stay in position even when water levels rise. In case of heavy rain or flood, the setup allows one end to be released, so that excess water can flow through without piling up debris.”
According to the officials, the booms are part of flood-mitigation efforts, and have been installed in canals linked to rivers such as the Cooum, Adyar, and Kosasthalaiyar.
Earlier, the GCC installed trash booms at the Kodungaiyur Canal in North Chennai, which helped remove several tonnes of accumulated waste.
They are also being set up in major canals, including Mambalam, Captain Cotton, Virugambakkam, and Red Hills.
Published – July 21, 2025 12:26 am IST
