Corporation begins desilting of lakes and canals in Chennai ahead of monsoon

A total of 258 metric tonnes of silt, water hyacinth and floating waste were removed in a single day from Chennai’s lakes and waterways as part of the monsoon preparedness works undertaken by the Greater Chennai Corporation. Ahead of the northeast monsoon, desilting and waterway maintenance operations have been intensified across the city. The civic body stated that works were carried out at Porur, Korattur and Velachery lakes, besides the Buckingham Canal, Otteri Nullah and several other canals, according to a press release. The Corporation maintains 44 waterways spanning 81 km and is deploying specialised amphibious machinery to remove silt and floating debris, ensuring the smooth flow of rainwater during the monsoon season. Officials said the desilting drive would continue across key water bodies and canals to improve drainage and reduce flood risks, release said.