The city’s capacity to recover from calamities such as flood and drought is set to be strengthened, with the Chennai Corporation launching a resilience strategy developed in partnership with 100 Resilient Cities — pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation (100RC).
Unveiling the resilience strategy, “Resilient Chennai”, at the Ripon Buildings on Thursday, Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash said: “The resilience strategy will facilitate more investments in projects that help residents recover from any calamity. New civic projects will protect our greenery and augment our water resources.”
Involving community
The resilience strategy has been developed in consultation with stakeholders from the private and public sector, academics and local communities over a two-year period.
In addition, it is expected to strengthen the city’s preparedness to respond and readjust to current and future shocks and stresses, that include drought, flood and unplanned urbanisation.
Chief Resilience Officer Krishna Mohan Ramachandran said, “The strategy envisions a city that revives our deep historical relationship with water, and preserves our waterbodies as an integral part of our urban fabric.”
“It aims to advance a vision for the city that embraces its vulnerable communities and treats them as key stakeholders in resilience building. And most importantly, it foresees a city where healthy engagement between and within stakeholder groups results in improved outcomes and greater impact,” said Mr. Krishna Mohan.
He said development banks in various countries were expected to fund more civic projects that seek to improve the city’s resilience during disaster events such as drought and flood. For instance, one project aims to restore the vitality of the Mambalam Canal and basin area. Other project sites include Muttukadu, Koyambedu, Mylapore, and Chitra Nagar.
According to estimates, funding of over ₹24,000 crore is required for key projects that build the city’s resilience.
‘Urgent work’
Lauren Sorkin, managing director, 100 Resilient Cities, Asia Pacific, said “Resilient Chennai” was the culmination of two years of work to understand the city’s challenges.
“The strategy attempts to prepare Chennai for a future impacted by climate change. This work is urgent and necessary, but it’s not only today’s drought and floods that make it so,” she said.
“Resilient Chennai” outlines five pillars, 17 inter-related goals and 86 actions that address the city’s resilience vision. Other aspects of the strategy include water systems, covering around 3,600 waterbodies, three river systems and adequate rainwater harvesting.
