GCC plans 50 sponge parks to enhance water management

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to build 50 sponge parks in North Chennai. This initiative aims to improve water storage and reduce flooding in the area. The state government has allocated 88 crore rupees in the recent budget for these sponge parks. The sponge parks will be created and restored in various locations, including Manali, Thiruvottiyur, and Madhavaram. These areas drain into the Kosasthalaiyar Basin. The first phase involves contracts worth 8 crore rupees to develop these parks. Some of the specific sites for the sponge parks include Sadayankupppam, Kargin Nagar, and MMDA Colony. The project will be funded through a 3,000 crore rupee storm water drain initiative backed by KfW. Several ponds have been selected for this purpose, such as Thamarai Kulam and Vannar Kulam. Officials plan to excavate about five-feet deep ponds in unutilized land managed by the corporation. Sewage problems will also be addressed by connecting the drains around the ponds. The GCC hopes to store up to 75 million liters of water with these parks. Currently, water from Thiruvottiyur, Manali, and Madhavaram flows into the Kosasthalaiyar River. However, local activist K Raja highlighted concerns about the 150-acre Madhavaram Lake. He noted it has many encroachments and has not been maintained for three years. This has reduced the lake's ability to store water effectively.