EVOLUTION OF URBAN WASTELANDS AND IT'S IMPACT IN CHENNAI, INDIA

Back to Page Authors: Geeva Chandana Balasubramanian

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Keywords: common lands, urban wasteland, Poromboke, floods, water bodies, Chennai

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Abstract: In Tamil Nadu, Eri (Tank) is a seasonal lake-reservoir, which is primarily used for irrigation purposes which have embankment on three sides. This is a water conservation system as the state faces irregular rainfall and has faced droughts in history. These tanks not only helped in the conservation of water but also formed an ecosystem. Common Lands (Poramboke) were allocated by different ruling dynasties to serve this purpose. As the city of Chennai faces severe floods throughout history and being a coastal city, it is very much prone to cyclonic depressions and heavy rainfalls during monsoon season. These water tanks and canals helped to mitigate the flood risks of the city during monsoon season and provide water to the city during summer. Due to increased urbanization and land values, these water systems have been encroached and built. And the few existing water bodies don’t have the water source and have turned into a wasteland. This is a serious issue the city is facing as it suffers from floods and water scarcity, the revival of these common lands will solve the problem. The recent floods in 2015 was an eye-opener for the city dwellers and brought to light the problems the city faced due to lack of proper urban planning, encroachments on natural water systems, channels and wetlands, siltation of the water bodies and effects of increased urbanization.

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