The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) would prioritise restoration of existing lakes over creating new sponge parks, even as the civic body has completed work on 30 of the 32 sponge parks planned over the past two years.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mayor R. Priya said sponge parks were initially conceived as an artificial intervention to improve rainwater absorption. However, the Corporation had found better results by restoring and strengthening existing waterbodies. “Instead of sponge parks, we have taken up restoration of many lakes. Every lake already has a natural bund. We have strengthened the bunds, created proper walking paths and carried out safety measures. We have seen better results through this approach,” she said.

The then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced in the State Budget for 2025-26 that seven climate-resilient sponge parks would be established across the Chennai Metropolitan Area at an estimated cost of ₹88 crore.

Later in 2025, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) proposed sponge parks at Chennai Corporation Park in Thoraipakkam and Elango Nagar playground in Padi at a total cost of ₹9.45 crore to improve rainwater management, recharge groundwater, and mitigate flooding. However, no further progress has been made on these projects.

A Parks Department official of the GCC said 32 sponge parks had been planned over the past two years, of which 30 had been completed and two were under progress. The official added that sponge park projects using Eco-Blocks may not be taken up in the coming days, as their effectiveness have been limited. Given Chennai’s predominantly clayey soil, groundwater infiltration remained poor, and allowing stormwater to flow naturally into canals would, in many locations, be more effective than creating artificial sponge parks, as the clay beneath the gravel layers restricted percolation, the official said.

Given Chennai’s predominantly clayey soil, groundwater infiltration remained poor, and allowing stormwater to flow naturally into canals would, in many locations, be more effective than creating artificial sponge parks, as the clay beneath the gravel layers restricted percolation, the official said.

Meanwhile, some councillors have raised concerns over the maintenance of existing sponge parks. AIADMK councillor Ashwini Karuna of Sholinganallur Zone said the sponge park at Annai Indra Nagar, opened last year, was being maintained by the GCC but required greater attention, particularly to address moss build-up. Similar concerns were raised by Ward Committee Chairperson for Valasaravakkam V. Rajan of the DMK regarding the two sponge parks under his zone.

Choolaimedu Congress councillor E. Suganya, however, said assistant engineers and park supervisory officials were responsive whenever issues were brought to their notice. “The fencing requested was also put up to ensure children do not fall into it,” she said.

GCC officials said the sponge parks were being maintained by the Chennai Corporation directly, with manpower from self-help groups, and that no major complaints had been received in recent months.

Published - August 05, 2026 05:30 am IST