Mon Aug 04 19:22:24 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Residents of Korattur and Ambattur Industrial Estate in Chennai, India, have long suffered from severe flooding and power outages during the Northeast monsoon season. To address this, the Water Resources Department is initiating a ₹ 130 crore project to build a 5-km channel diverting excess water from Ambattur lake to the Cooum river. Residents are urging for the completion of significant portions of the work before the next monsoon season. While industrial unit holders are optimistic, some residents emphasize the need to rejuvenate Korattur lake and prioritize rainwater collection. Additional measures are planned, including another channel to divert water from Korattur’s North Avenue canal and improvements to Korattur lake.
**News Article:**
**Chennai Residents Hope New Flood Mitigation Project Will Offer Relief Ahead of Monsoon**
**CHENNAI, INDIA – August 5, 2025** – Residents of Korattur and Ambattur Industrial Estate are cautiously optimistic as the Water Resources Department prepares to begin a ₹ 130 crore project aimed at alleviating the chronic flooding that plagues the areas during the Northeast monsoon season. For years, these localities in western Chennai have faced inundation and power outages due to the overflow of Ambattur lake.
The core of the project involves constructing a five-kilometer channel designed to divert a portion of the lake’s surplus water to the Cooum river. Officials say the four-meter wide channel will carry approximately 400 cubic feet of water per second, relieving pressure on existing waterways. The project requires no land acquisition and is slated to begin this week.
“People are worried to live on the ground floor of houses,” said J. Gopalakrishnan, president of the Korattur Federation of Residents Welfare Association. “Tenants insist on renting only first-floor houses, and some residents even leave their houses locked during the rainy season.” Gopalakrishnan hopes the project will reduce waterlogging by 30%.
While industrial unit holders in Ambattur anticipate a reduction in flooding by nearly one-third, some residents are advocating for a more holistic approach. M. Ranganathan, a resident of Korattur, stressed the importance of rejuvenating Korattur lake and prioritizing rainwater harvesting. “The lake must be rejuvenated to manage floods,” he said.
Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel announced plans for an additional three-kilometer channel to divert water from Korattur’s North Avenue canal to Otteri Nullah, along with further improvements to Korattur lake.
Residents are urging the Water Resources Department to prioritize the completion of key portions of the project before the onset of the next Northeast monsoon season, which typically begins in October. The success of this project is critical to the safety and well-being of thousands of Chennai residents.
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