The Water Resources Department (WRD) has initiated discussions with the World Bank to implement Chennai’s Water Security Plan, aimed at enhancing water and climate resilience by 2047.
The plan, approved by the Tamil Nadu government earlier this year, includes 704 projects worth Rs 20,000 crore to decentralise the city’s water supply and build flood-resilient infrastructure. In the first phase, WRD plans to execute 50–60 priority projects worth Rs 3,000 crore over the next three to four years, creating an additional 20.5 tmcft of storage capacity. Efforts include upgrading 110 tanks and reservoirs, building new storage structures on Palar and Kosasthalaiyar rivers, and developing percolation ponds to curb seawater intrusion. Reservoir upgrades in Thiruninravur, Nemam, Thaiyur, and Guduvancherry will strengthen local water systems.
The WRD is also partnering with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on flood mitigation projects in Chennai’s core areas, emphasising low-investment, high-impact conservation strategies under the Chennai City Partnership Programme.