Officials said the project was delayed for various reasons, including a delay in obtaining permission from NHAI and sporadic rain.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In an effort to reduce flood vulnerability in Ambattur, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has expedited work to complete the construction of a channel to divert water from Ambattur lake to the Cooum river before the onset of Northeast monsoon.The ₹130-crore project had lagged behind schedule for various reasons, including a delay in obtaining permission from National Highways Authority of India and sporadic rainfall, according to WRD officials.While residents said such projects were necessary to resolve inundation, they noted that the government authorities must develop infrastructure to store water to meet increasing water requirements.The project was chalked out to bridge the gap in inadequate capacity of the existing infrastructure to carry floodwater from Ambattur lake towards Korattur lake. Every year, areas, including Ambattur Industrial Estate, get inundated whenever Ambattur lake touches its full capacity.About 40% of the work to build a channel for about 5.1 km from the existing surplus channel on Cookson Road has been completed so far. The Ambattur surplus course had a capacity to carry 1,800 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of floodwater. But insufficient number of culverts along Pattaravakkam railway line to discharge surplus water to the northern side of Korattur lake resulted in afflux and flooding in surrounding areas, said officials.The diversion channel that would carry a portion of surplus water along the Chennai Bypass Road service lane would drain into the Cooum river near Maduravoyal and reduce inundation load in the existing surplus course, officials said. A 100-metre portion of the channel, designed to carry about 350 cusecs, near the Cooum river has also been completed.However, construction of 80-metre stretch on the bustling CTH Road remains a challenge. Prefabricated structures were being considered to speed up the work, officials added.Ambattur residents said the focus should not be limited to flood mitigation. T. Gunaseelan of Ambattur said the government authorities should undertake projects to use surplus water and improve groundwater table. S.P. Nedumaran, coordinator, Ambattur Water Bodies Protection Movement said that measures must be taken to ensure Korattur lake does not run dry owing to insufficient inflow. Open channels may be considered to divert water to Korattur lake. Published - August 14, 2026 05:00 am IST
