Sat Apr 19 23:45:00 UTC 2025: **Chennai, April 20, 2025** – A new study reveals the alarming loss of nearly 165 water bodies in the Pallikaranai catchment area near Chennai, India, due to decades of encroachment. The research, conducted by the Uvakai Research Foundation, highlights the urgent need for water body restoration to mitigate flooding and secure the city’s water supply.
The foundation’s analysis, based on historical maps, satellite imagery, and government records, shows that out of 452 identified water bodies, 165 lakes and tanks, totaling 7.35 sq.km., have been lost. These losses occurred in areas including Velachery, Injambakkam, Sembakkam, Nanganallur, and Hasthinapuram.
The study emphasizes the crucial role of the Pallikaranai catchment area and its marshland in flood control. The existing water bodies possess a combined storage capacity of nearly 1,300 million cubic feet (mcft), with the marshland alone capable of storing 245 mcft. Proper maintenance could conserve up to 65% of floodwater runoff, potentially meeting South Chennai’s daily water demand for 77 days.
Director E. Vidhubala stressed the inconsistencies in data across government agencies and the lack of clear ownership records for many water bodies, hindering effective maintenance. The foundation recommends a multi-pronged approach, including community-led monitoring, collaboration with institutions like IIT-Madras and Anna University, and the declaration of low-lying areas as ecologically sensitive zones. The report urges a shift from floodwater diversion schemes to prioritizing the restoration of existing water bodies. A second volume of the report, focusing on individual water bodies, is expected in July. The foundation has already submitted its findings to various government agencies.
First Piper 