There’s a proposal for the riverfront development of the Cooum, Adyar river, and the Buckingham Canal.
What’s it about? The Water Resources Department has proposed a plan for the riverfront development of the Cooum and a revival of navigating the Buckingham Canal. Many waterways in the city are being considered for eco-restoration, with the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust as the nodal agency.
- A pilot initiative was proposed for the sustainable restoration of waterways to generate revenue. One area is the upper reaches of the Cooum, which is clean and has had minimum flow for many months.
- Another area being considered is a stretch of the Adyar river near Manapakkam or Thiru Vi Ka bridge. The south Buckingham Canal is being looked at for navigation.
Reviving plans: In 2014, the Inland Waterways Authority of India set up an office in the city to implement the National Waterway-4 project. A portion of the south Buckingham canal between Sholinganallur and Kalpakkam was chosen for passenger vessels, but the project never got off the ground. The WRD wants to revive the project with help from other government agencies.