The locals casually joke that now Chennai is on Spongify. Water has been Chennai’s identity for ages, climate change gave its own twist and has been drowning Chennai with record rains in the last decade. This coupled with anthropocentric lifestyle has only aggravated the water challenges in and around Chennai. Name-shame, blame games are a thing of the past, rather than pondering on who or what is responsible for this mess, Chennai literally and morally wants a higher ground to protect herself from flooding. Innovation and individuals in conservation is the key take away that Chennai has been experimenting with and it seems to have worked.
The result of the above approach is this project, a brand new Sponge Park at Sholinganallur. Along the course of the Buckingham canal, the aquifer zones and its periphery are steadily being taken over by an urban spread. Making this one of the most vulnerable flood zones in the city. This is also a densely packed economic powerhouse not just for the city but for the country. Sustainable development in this belt is and will be the right thing to do.
What is a Sponge Park?
A Blue-green infrastructure that functions like a giant sponge-designed to absorb, retain, filter, and slowly release rain and stormwater to reduce flooding, replenish groundwater, and improve water quality.
E.F.I is setting up 6 such Sponge parks in collaboration with G.C.C across Chennai city, aimed at creating new Hydro-infra aimed at curtailing localized flooding and enhancing ground water stability. Chennai city deserves BlueGreen innovation to ensure we are water positive. The demand, supply, climate resilience angles of modern lives being addressed with initiatives such as this. With climate change increasing both floods and heatwaves, these parks offer a nature-based adaptation strategy.A water infrastructure that is also a fitness setup creating a brand new nature based public space. Come take a walk on this levelled path way watching the sponge park do its magic behind that protective fence.
If and when in Chennai next, do take 2 hours off your schedule to visit water projects in this BlueGreen Capital of India. A city that is reinventing in more ways than one, specially when it comes to nature conservation. Sponge parks in Chennai is an experiment that is delivering results sooner than anticipated. Half glass full-empty is a cliche perspective. All ponds full and no lakes empty is Chennai’s vision for a BlueGreen future. Do tune into Chennai on Spongify, this is Water for Everyone. #WhateverToWaterForever.