Amid growing demands from residents to clean the waterways in and around Chennai, the Water Resources Department (WRD) is set to begin its annual pre-monsoon preparedness works in five districts, including Cuddalore, ahead of the Northeast monsoon.

A government order (G.O.) was issued recently, sanctioning about ₹42 crore for carrying out 202 works covering waterways across the five districts. The works are expected to begin by next week, according to sources.

Last month, the department, along with volunteers and non-governmental organisations, launched a special desilting drive to clean critical stretches, including the Cooum. However, the funds required for the comprehensive desilting exercise were still awaited.

The fund has now been sanctioned to remove vegetation impeding free flow of floodwater in waterways, desilt silt and debris in rivers and canals, and repair shutters and other hydraulic structures.

The department has also instructed officials to remove any encroachments affecting the flow of floodwater if immediately required.

The WRD would also need to submit an impact assessment report after documenting the progress of works at different stages.

It has also been directed to upload on the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Information and Management System details of the works carried out.

The works need to be monitored by the respective district collectors and certified for completion. It may be recalled that the works worth ₹38 crore had begun in July last year, ahead of the usual August deadline.

Meanwhile, residents have complained of aquatic weeds choking waterbodies and major rivers such as the Adyar. S. Sameer of Social Work Team Trust (SWOTT), a Puzhal-based voluntary organisation, said boat rides — introduced in March this year — on Retteri lake were suspended because the waterbody was covered with water hyacinth. The lake was developed as a freshwater storage and recreational facility with enhanced storage capacity of 50 million cubic feet.

He raised concerns over sewage being released into the lake through storm-water drains, and demanded better coordination between government departments to curb sewage pollution.

Besides removing floating materials and vegetation from critical stretches of major waterways, including the Buckingham canal, Cooum, Araniyar, Kosasthalaiyar and Adyar rivers, sandbars accumulated at river mouths such as the Cooum and the Araniyar, as well as sea mouths in Pudupattinam and Muttukadu, will also be removed.

Officials said waterbodies, including those in Velachery and Perumbakkam, and floodwater channels would also be cleared of aquatic weeds. The exercise would continue through the Northeast monsoon, they added.

Published - August 18, 2026 11:58 pm IST