Thu Jul 24 19:18:36 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Water Resources Department (WRD) in Chennai is continuing its efforts to restore the Adyar river by removing encroachments along its banks. An enumeration drive is underway in Saidapet to identify and document illegal structures. This follows the retrieval of approximately 65,000 sq.m. of encroached land. While the project started five years ago, progress was slowed by resident opposition and legal challenges. The Madras High Court has directed the resettlement of those displaced. The WRD plans to resettle residents of Thideer Nagar in locations such as Gothamedu. The aim is to rejuvenate the river, minimize flooding, and improve its carrying capacity. The department is also cleaning vulnerable stretches of the river in preparation for the monsoon season.
**News Article:**
**Chennai River Restoration: Encroachment Removal Drive Continues Along Adyar River**
**CHENNAI, July 25, 2025** – The Water Resources Department (WRD) is pressing forward with its ambitious project to restore the Adyar river in Chennai, launching an enumeration drive in Saidapet to identify and remove encroachments hindering the waterway’s rejuvenation.
According to WRD officials, the drive is focusing on documenting illegal structures, particularly in areas like Thideer Nagar, where 600 encroachments have been identified and the biometric process for 267 structures has been completed. The department anticipates the enumeration process to take four to five days. Clearance operations will commence following approval from the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust and after the resettlement locations for affected residents are finalized.
“We are committed to restoring the Adyar river to its former glory, and this includes removing illegal structures that impede its natural flow and increase the risk of flooding,” stated a WRD official.
The initiative is part of a larger five-year project that has already seen the retrieval of approximately 65,000 sq.m. of encroached land. Progress has been hampered by resistance from residents and legal battles, but the Madras High Court has issued directives to facilitate resettlement efforts and encroachment removal.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian assured that efforts are underway to resettle displaced residents in suitable locations, such as Gothamedu in Saidapet, where additional housing is planned. Furthermore, the restoration plans include strengthening the river’s bunds and cleaning vulnerable stretches in preparation for the monsoon season.
The Adyar river’s peak flood flow reached a critical 85,000 cubic feet per second during the devastating 2015 floods near Saidapet. Authorities hope that the ongoing restoration project will significantly reduce future flood risks and revitalize the river ecosystem.
First Piper 