The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) plans to take up a ₹30-crore project to restore the Virugambakkam Canal amid complaints about garbage disposal and unchecked illegal sewer connections.
“In the 70s, water never entered our houses. Now, there are floods every year,” said Venkat, a long-time resident of Virugambakkam, recalling the times when the canal water was clean, and homes remained free from nundation even during heavy rain.
The Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam Canal runs for 6.36 km from Bhuvaneshwari Nagar to the Cooum River, and has a total catchment area of 30.63 sq. km., according to the GCC.
“These days, there are weeds, plastic, sewage, and garbage all over,” Mr. Venkat said, pointing to thick hyacinth choking the waterway, and garbage being dumped regularly.
“In the last two years, Chinmaya Nagar and Sai Nagar were severely affected by inundation,” he further said.
He blamed the deterioration of the canal on illegal sewer connections and unregulated encroachments.
“Last year, the Chennai Corporation cleared debris from the canal after the local residents filed complaints. But the overall situation has not improved,” he added.
According to the Corporation’s Detailed Project Report (DPR), the 39 storm-water/sewer outlets were filled to their capacity during the Northeast monsoon, leading to the overflow.
To address this, a rejuvenation project of the canal has been planned in Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, and Valasaravakkam Zones (VIII, IX, X and XI). It includes sludge removal, bored piling, and canal fencing.
The project has been tendered out, and is expected to be finalised by the first week of July, an official at the Storm Water Drain Department said.
A total of ₹5.20 crore is allocated for the removal of sludge, silt, debris, and water weeds using high-capacity dredging machinery, and ₹3.13 crore for concrete bored piling works.
Other key allocations include ₹3.25 crore for reinforcement steel works, ₹3.97 crore for reinforced cement concrete works, and ₹5.53 crore for iron chain-link fencing along the canal stretch, the GCC said.
Virugambakkam Canal
The Virugambakkam Canal originates from the Virugambakkam tank in Bhuvaneswari Nagar and passes through Chinmaya Nagar, Saligramam, MMDA Colony, Choolaimedu, Azad Nagar, and Thiruvalluvarpuram, before meeting the Cooum River near Nelson Manickam Road.
The canal has a total length of 6.36 km, with a bed width ranging from 7.5 metres to 19 metres.
The maximum depth is five metres.
The average bed width is 13.5 metres, and the canal is designed to handle a maximum flood discharge of 1100 cusecs. The full supply depth is 2.00 m, with a maximum water level depth of 2.50 m.
There are 68 stormwater drains connected to the canal, 39 storm/sewer outlets, and 21 outfalls.
A flood protection wall is present, except in certain areas where private properties obstruct the space, according to GCC’s DPR.
Published – June 23, 2025 11:44 pm IST
