The Water Resources Department (WRD) of India engaged in discussions with representatives from the World Bank on January 28, 2026, regarding a significant proposal to implement the Integrated Water Security project for the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). The project is anticipated to receive an estimated loan assistance of ₹5,000 crore.
Water Resources Department Plan
This initiative aims to enhance the resilience of the CMA to droughts and floods. The Water Resources Department plans to submit the projects for the State government’s approval once their feasibility is finalized. During the meeting, 40 projects were presented to ensure long-term water security for the CMA, with a focus on cost-effective implementations.
The World Bank team, including David Lord, Lead Water Specialist, Mathews Mullackal, Senior Water Specialist, and consultant Somya Sethuraman, discussed three main components of the proposal: water conservation and storage, strengthening institutional governance, and enhancing local water use efficiency. The World Bank expressed readiness to fund these initiatives.
The WRD projected that water demand in the CMA will reach 3,700 million litres per day by 2050. C. Podupani Thilagam, WRD’s Chief Engineer for the Chennai region, highlighted discussions on resource conservation and flood reduction, emphasizing the implementation of ‘low-hanging fruit’ projects over the next five years. The integration of real-time monitoring systems through SCADA was also considered.
Key projects include increasing the storage capacity of the Poondi reservoir by 700 million cubic feet at a cost of ₹619 crore, and converting Thirunindravur lake into a drinking water source for Avadi Municipal Corporation, costing ₹105 crore. Comprehensive improvements to canals feeding major reservoirs, valued at ₹155 crore, were also discussed. The team visited various project locations, including the Chembarambakkam reservoir.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, January 29th, 2026
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