Mon Jun 23 18:39:31 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Chennai Announces Ambitious Water Security Plan to Combat Climate Change**

**CHENNAI, June 24, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu State government has approved a comprehensive Water Security Plan for Chennai and its surrounding metropolitan area (CMA), aiming to make the city water-abundant and flood-resilient. The plan, developed under the Chennai City Partnership Programme, outlines 704 projects focused on conserving floodwater and establishing a decentralized water supply system to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The initiative addresses a significant gap between water demand and supply in Chennai. Currently, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) supplies 1,040 million liters per day (mld) against a demand of 1,720 mld (estimated in 2020). According to the CMWSSB’s Master Plan, water demand is projected to reach 38.73 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) by 2050. The Water Security Plan seeks to create additional storage and harness a total of 39.74 tmcft of water by 2050.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) will oversee the implementation of the plan, which considers twelve water basins, including the Chennai and Palar ones, within the CMA. The projects fall under three main strategies: conservation of floodwater runoff at source, climate-adaptive rejuvenation of water bodies to boost storage capacity, and regulation of flash floods through river training and flood protection works.

Key projects include upgrading 350 tanks into reservoirs, constructing three barrages across the Palar River, and establishing groundwater recharge structures along the coastal belt. The WRD anticipates that project implementation will span five to ten years, with some long-term projects extending beyond a decade.

“This plan will address capacity enhancement of existing water bodies,” said B. Sakthivel, a hydrologist and consultant involved in the project. “Further investment should be based on the plan’s recommendations for water conservation, flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, and climate resilience.”

The government will fund the projects initially and seek reimbursements from funding agencies, including the World Bank, upon completion. The Water Security Plan marks a significant step towards ensuring Chennai’s water security and resilience in the face of increasing climate challenges.

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