The water resources department (WRD) has completed construction of training walls at Ennore creek in north Chennai, following the dredging of the creek’s mouth to enhance flood management and support local biodiversity.
The project facilitates inter-tidal action to allow seawater to flow smoothly into the creek during high tide and recede into the sea during low tide.
A senior WRD official said the construction of training walls began in Feb last after receiving Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change. The project, costing 154 crore, included building walls and removing the sandbar at the creek’s mouth to improve water flow.
An essential 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. However, further work is needed, including cleaning of Buckingham Canal, Captain Cotton Canal and Otteri Nullah to prevent floods in nearby residential areas, said the official.
A biodiversity expert said Ennore creek, an ecologically sensitive zone, relies on inter-tidal action to maintain its ecological balance. As a crucial spawning ground for fish, the new facility is expected to enhance fish resources in the area, they said. 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.