Abstract:
Topographical and hydrological restrictions have significantly dictated
development of Chennai. In other words, communities recognized and
appreciated their surroundings' natural realities and shaped development
appropriately. Early settlers created an Ery’s system, which is now a remarkable
example of an effective technical and management solution to Chennai's water
concerns which recognizes the seasonal unpredictability of water supply. Ery’s
were often made up of linked water bodies/tanks that were designed to guarantee
that water was accessible to all for agriculture, as well as to aid in conservation,
aquifer recharge, and flood control during periods of severe rainfall. This system
has lost its significance in today's urbanized Chennai. In today's urbanized
Chennai, the old Ery system has lost its importance. Chennai's water bodies,
especially its ery’s, have been encroached upon or reclassified for housing,
commercial and industrial buildings. This has been due to a growing population
and economy mixed with a flourishing real estate market. For a variety of reasons,
the surviving ery’s are not properly maintained. The city's capacity to satisfy its
water demands has been harmed by developments near lakes and rivers, while
residents have been subjected to regular flooding. Because of this recent years
of growth and negligence of understanding towards ery’s system, flooding danger
has increased. This can be observed by the flood scenarios of 2005 and 2015.The
research will look into Chennai's expansion, the spatiotemporal variation of water
mass balance components, land use/land cover changes, and their impact on this
traditional ery’s systems, particularly in terms of flood control. The flood inundated
zones and the changed Ery’s system would be correlated to examine the
problems in flood management in current scenario. Based on the analysis the
extent of revival of ery’s system would be established and zones where revival is
not possible alternative storage or retention strategies would be devised.
Recommendations and modifications will also be highlighted to be incorporated in
development control regulations, layout approval and urban planning guidelines
for effective flood management.
