URBAN FLOODS -

CHENNAI
AVG ELEVATION – 6.7 m almost flat coastal plain
avg rainfall – 1.4 m

MONSOON –
Southwest monsoon – June to sept
Northeast monsoon – oct to dec

SOIL TYPE – Clay soil (Slow water movement, poor drainage)

TIMELINE OF CHENNAI –

March and June 1877: drought

1903: A severe cyclone passed through Madras during the Indian National Congress session, causing heavy rains and floods.

November-December 1943: Chennai experienced one of its worst floods in recorded history. Heavy rainfall over a short period led to the flooding
of several areas, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

November 1976: Chennai faced another devastating flood due to heavy rainfall. Many low-lying areas were inundated, causing widespread
damage.

November-December 1985: Heavy rains during the northeast monsoon caused severe flooding in Chennai and surrounding areas. Thousands
were affected, and the city's infrastructure suffered extensive damage.

October-November 2005: Chennai witnessed massive floods due to record-breaking rainfall. The Adyar and Cooum rivers overflowed, submerging
vast areas of the city. The flooding disrupted normal life and caused considerable destruction.

November-December 2015: Chennai experienced unprecedented flooding, considered one of the worst in its history. Relentless rainfall over
several days led to overflowing rivers, inundating vast swathes of the city. Thousands were stranded, and the city's infrastructure was severely
damaged. The floods brought Chennai to a standstill, prompting massive relief efforts and highlighting the need for better urban planning and
flood management. A series of depressions and storms, including Cyclone Nada, dumped unprecedented rainfall on Chennai and surrounding
areas, causing the worst floods in a century, killing hundreds of people, and affecting millions more.

2017 – DROUGHT
2019 – FLOOD
2023 – FLOOD CYCLONE
Ground water level
 SITE 1 Flood area during 2015 and 2023

The first site comprises of Teynampet zone at the centre of the city consisting of the areas of T. Nagar, Nungambakkam,
Royapettah and Alwarpet. This region consists of very important arterial roads of the city like the Nungambakkam high road,
Cathedral Road, Kodambakkam High road and the Anna Salai among others. As mentioned in the historical references, this
region once consisted of the Long tank and the Mambalam tank that has since been built over in the TNHB's Ery schemes as the
now existing T.Nagar. The Anna Salai also contains the metro line. The area also consists of parts of the Cooum river, Mambalam
canal and Buckingham canal.
 LANDUSE 2006 LANDUSE 2026 – WITH FLOODED ZONES

On comparing satellite imagery of the years 2002 and 2021 it is seen that the built density has visibly increased. The
development in this region has changed from a predominantly residential neighbourhood with commercial
development along the spines in 2006 to a more commercial mixed-use neighbourhood in 2026 as seen from the
land use maps. The number of open spaces and parks have also increased in number. The Cooum river that has been
marked as a water body in the 2006 map has been shown as recreational in green instead of being retained as a
water body in blue around which it should have been marked as green buffers.
The site has contours ranging from 6 m above sea
level to 15 m with the lowest points being along the
river. The stream order in this region is at 5 which is
the Cooum itself and lower steams that lead up to it.
The Buckingham canal and the Mambalam canal also
drain this area. Over the years, these water bodies
have been reduced to mere sewage outlets,
encroached upon by slum dwellers and have become
pollution. Efforts are being done to re juvenate these
water bodies- encroachments that were present have
also been removed and its inhabitants relocated by
the CRRT and the TNSCB respectively in most of the
regions.
The storm water drains in this region are present as
shown. The regions highlighted in image are those that
got flooded during the December rains. These spots were
identified by the GCC through RISAT in the Disaster
Management Plan. The hotspots seen are concentrated
around the Cooum, the regions around the canals and
along the main arterials. When overlayed with the
contours and stream data it is seen that the flood
hotspots are over lower contours and at the regions
where the streams are formed. Though this region
consists of storm water drains, insufficient capacity,
maintenance issues and the outdated infrastructure
stood as few of the main reasons for flooding of the
region.
The second site consists of parts of 4 areas in proximity to the previous site with the areas of
Kodambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alandur and the Cantonment area. This region contains the
Adyar river. It is a mix of the older and newer developments and still continues to densify over
time.
On comparing satellite imagery of the years 2002 and 2021 it is seen that the built density has visibly increased, more so in
the southern portion which a part of the newer developments in the city. The development in this region has changed
from a predominantly residential neighbourhood with industrial development along the river in 2006 to a more mixed-use
neighbourhood in 2026 as seen from the land use maps. The number of open spaces and parks also have been increased
in addition to the initial industries. While the river has been marked as a recreational space, as the previous site. it is seen
that there is a visible decrease in the area under water bodies present.
The site has contours ranging from 9 m above sea level to 15 m with the lowest points
being along the river. The stream order in this region is at as the Adyar river. The storm
water drains in this region are present as shown. The regions highlighted in image are
those that got flooded during the December rains.
 Adyar river originates from 3 sources, the
Chembarambakkam lake, the
Guduvancherry hills and Malaipattu tank,
the three streams join at Thiuneermalai and
flow as the Adyar river for a length of 42
Kms. The study area considered is from the
Chembrambakkamake to the Adyar creek for
a length of 21 Kms in the city. Apart from the
three major sources, the river is also fed by
secondary and tertiary streams along with
overflow from 109 tanks in the basin

Most of the region comprises of Clay soil, with the

regions along the river and the coast comprising of
sandy soil. Sand has excessive draining capacity,
whereas clay has well and moderate draining capacity.
The depth of the soil varies from moderately shallow in
the upstream of the river to very deep in the
downstream. The soil in the areas upstream of the river
are moderately eroded whereas, soil downstream is
only slightly eroded.
 Regions in the study area that are near the coast have Laterite
stone in the subsoil with a yield of 5-100 LPM and with
groundwater available at a depth of <30m. Other regions
upstream had Shale and Limestone with a yield of 10-20,30-50
and 100-200 LPM with groundwater available from 80m and
above. This suggests that near the coast in the area with
Laterite soil, conventional methods of rainwater recharge will
not be effective as water is available at a depth less than 30m

Flora and Fauna of Adyar has around 15 species of plants that

are native to the Adyar river basin. It has 6 species of worms, 2
species of crabs and abundance of crab that are preserved by
the theosophical society.
Runaway at 10 m - flood level 14 m (2015)
- flood level 12 m (2023)
The third site selected forms a part of peripheral region of the city that developed post 2000 when the
Rajiv Gandhi IT corridor also known as the Old Mahabalipuram road came into existence. This part of
the city consists of the East Coast road which runs parallel to the IT corridor. Initially, this area was
sparsely developed with holiday homes and resorts but post development of the IT corridor this region
received an influx of development. IT offices, residential development and supporting infrastructure
was developed over the years making it one of the most sought after areas for the employees working
in this sector. The Perumbakkam main road connection further increased influx in and around this
region.
This region is the home of the Pallikaranai marshland which is a freshwater swamp that acts as an aquifer recharge area.
The development here has resulted in depletion of this marshland because of the rapid and haphazard construction,
sewage waste dumping in the marshland itself and illegal constructions among other reasons. The marshland itself and the
area around are low lying at 0-3m with an inherent quality of flooding. Despite the region being marked as low lying in the
2006 land use plan, industries, residences and commercial development continues to be seen in this region which have
further resulted in the depletion of this natural resource. Moreover, industrial pollution and concretization in the region has
resulted in reduced infiltration and carrying capacity.The satellite imagery of 2006 to 2021 shows a significant increase in the
built density owing to the development of the IT sector. The development here has been uncontrolled and haphazard, with
the low-lying areas around the marshland completely built over. Another important observation in terms of the land use
maps are the missing waterbodies that are not seen in the 2026 land use.
The contours in the region range from 3-12 with the lowest
points within the marshland. Though there is a robust road
network the eastern region has lesser storm water drains that
the west. The Eastern part of the site which consists of the
OMR and ECR gets flooded frequently even for showers of low
intensity as has little or no storm water drains.
The last site analysed contains the Velachery region that
developed at the same time of the previous region due to the
residential influx that occurred because of the Perumbakkam -
Velachery connection road. Over the years this region has
become one of the most-dense areas in the city.
The observations in terms of the land use maps and the built density remain the same
with visible increase in density. The development has densified over the years owing
to the influx resulting in rapid urbanization. Moreover, a decrease in the number of
water bodies and their sizes are noted owing to encroachments and unchecked
development. Subsequently from the land use maps it is seen that the initially
residential areas have been marked as mixed use residential and urbanizable which
shows the transition to a more liberal approach to planning.
Summarized observations

Increase in built density has resulted in a reduction permeable surfaces of for aquifer
recharge.

Floods occur due to inability of the infrastructure to of drain the run-off due to
Outdated infrastructure
Insufficient capacity
Disconnected network
Infrastructure Blockage
Low lying region

Absence of flood plain zoning

Presence of industries around water bodies
No buffers present despite a provision of buffer in the building regulations
Natural features, water bodies and canals not maintained and protected.
River not marked in the land use plan but marked as open/ recreational space.