WRD Submits ₹44.10 Crore Proposal to Restore Tiruneermalai's Naattu Kaalvai Canal

The Water Resource Department has submitted a revised ₹44.10 crore proposal to the State government for the comprehensive restoration of the Naattu Kaalvai canal in Tiruneermalai to prevent flooding in residential areas. According to a Right to Information (RTI) response dated June 24, 2026, the project aims to protect neighborhoods like Saraswathipuram, Rangapuram, and Ranga Nagar in Ward 31 of Tambaram Corporation, where the canal flows before joining the Adyar river.

The proposed restoration works include the construction of 3,200 metres of flood-retaining walls on both sides of the canal. According to the department, the project will prevent floodwaters from breaching the canal and inundating adjoining residential colonies.

The canal, which historically drained surplus water from waterbodies including the Tiruneermalai Periya Eri and Veeraraghavan Eri, has seen its carrying capacity severely reduced. Residents and local activists have waged a long battle to remove encroachments, desilt the canal, and stop the illegal discharge of sewage and industrial effluents.

Social activist Santhanam noted that during intense spells of rain, the bridge across the Naattu Kaalvai on Tiruneermalai Main Road near Saraswathipuram becomes virtually inaccessible. He emphasized that periodic desilting and encroachment removal would significantly improve the flow of storm water.

Resident Saravanan said portions of the canal, originally about 60 feet wide, have narrowed to nearly 15 feet, and in some stretches to just 10 feet, due to encroachments. While some encroachments were removed following the 2015 floods, several stretches remain affected, leading to inundation even during moderate rainfall. The worst-affected areas include Saraswathipuram Extension, Ranga Nagar, Subburaya Nagar, Kasi Garden, and parts of the Tiruneermalai temple town.

Residents have been pursuing this issue through RTI applications since 2016. A previous response from the Water Resource Department in October 2024 acknowledged the presence of encroachments and stated that it had requested the Tambaram Corporation to prevent garbage dumping and illegal sewage discharge into the waterway.

While residents had previously urged the department to secure approval for a ₹53.13-crore proposal, the revised estimate submitted to the government stands at ₹44.10 crore. Local residents have urged the department to secure early approval and commence the restoration works before the onset of the northeast monsoon to mitigate flood risks.