Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam inspected flood mitigation projects executed by the Water Resources Department (WRD) near the Pallikaranai marshland on Saturday (August 9, 2025), and instructed officials to expedite the work to minimise inundation before the onset of the Northeast monsoon.

He inspected the ₹91-crore work to construct a 1.2-km-long channel that aimed at mitigating waterlogging in areas like Velachery’s Vijaya Nagar and Ram Nagar, Semmencheri, and Perumbakkam, around the marshland. It would carry a portion of the floodwater from south Buckingham canal near Okkiam maduvu to the sea.

According to the WRD, the channel, which would have the capacity to carry about 1,000 cubic feet per second of water, would reduce the burden on Okkiam Maduvu and Buckingham canal. The channel would travel along localities like Uthandi before draining into the sea.

The project has been designed to handle the backflow of seawater due to tidal action. Mr. Muruganandam also reviewed the progress of the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) project to restore Ramanthangal lake in Sholinganallur. The project is being implemented at a cost of ₹1.26 crore under the ‘Namakku Namme’ scheme. Senior officials from the WRD, GCC, and Chennai Metrowater were also present.