The Chennai Water Resources Department (WRD) has successfully completed the construction of training walls at Ennore Creek in north Chennai. This project, undertaken after dredging the creek’s mouth, aims to improve flood management and support local biodiversity. The training walls facilitate inter-tidal action, allowing seawater to flow smoothly into the creek during high tide and recede back into the sea during low tide.
The construction of the training walls commenced in February 2024 after receiving Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The project, costing ₹154 crore, involved building walls and removing the sandbar at the creek’s mouth to improve water flow. A significant benefit of these training walls is their ability to expedite the receding of floodwaters from the western side of the creek into the sea, reducing flood risks in the area.
While the training walls are a major step towards improved flood management, further work is needed to prevent flooding in nearby residential areas. This includes cleaning of the Buckingham Canal, Captain Cotton Canal, and Otteri Nullah, according to a senior WRD official.
Ennore Creek, an ecologically sensitive zone, relies on inter-tidal action to maintain its ecological balance. It serves as a crucial spawning ground for fish, and the new facility is expected to enhance fish resources in the area, according to a biodiversity expert. The dredging of the creek mouth was completed two months ago, and the construction of the training walls was finished five months ahead of schedule.
