Chennai’s Flood Management Innovation: Large-Scale ‘Sponge Parks’ in Consideration

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is exploring a novel approach to urban flood management by contemplating the creation of large-scale “sponge parks” capable of collecting water from surrounding areas. The proposal, currently awaiting fund allocation approval of around ₹3 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), aims to address and mitigate the impact of urban flooding.

Unlike existing sponge parks that collect water solely from adjacent streets, these envisioned parks will have larger land masses, enabling them to absorb water from a broader vicinity.

The initiative aligns with GCC’s ongoing efforts to combat street-level stagnation during the rainy season. Under the Singara Chennai 2.0 mission, 40 sponge parks have already been established, involving the construction of mini ponds and trenches within the parks, contributing to comprehensive water management solutions in the city.