Buckingham Canal
Why in News?
- The Buckingham Canal is in the news because the Tamil Nadu government is evaluating an ambitious ₹876.35-crore restoration plan to revive navigation along a 7.2-km central stretch in Chennai.
- The project aims to introduce passenger boats, floating restaurants, and commercial cargo movement between the Napier Bridge and the Adyar River.
Location and Geography
- Route: It runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast of South India, cutting across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Length: The canal proper spans approximately 450 km (250 km in Andhra Pradesh and 200 km in Tamil Nadu). When integrated with the Krishna and Godavari delta canal systems, it forms a massive 650-km navigable network.
- Chennai Connectivity: Within Chennai, it functions as a crucial saltwater network intersecting three major rivers: the Kosasthalaiyar, Cooum, and Adyar.
Historical Background
- Origin (1806): It was originally built by Basil Cochrane as a private enterprise and was initially called the Cochrane Canal.
- Expansion (1837–1857): The government took control in 1837, renaming it the East Coast Canal and extending it further north.
- Famine Relief (1877–1878): During the Great Famine, a critical 8-km section linking the Cooum and Adyar rivers was constructed as a relief work project under the orders of the Governor of Madras.
- Final Naming (1878): It was officially named the Buckingham Canal after the then-Governor of Madras, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.
- Economic Lifeline: Up until the mid-20th century, it served as a major cargo highway, transporting bulky goods like firewood, paddy, salt, and fish between Andhra Pradesh and Chennai.
Recent Issues & Deterioration
- Encroachment: Severe urbanisation and the construction of the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) elevated tracks directly over the canal bank have dramatically narrowed its width.
- Pollution: The canal has effectively turned into an open sewer due to massive untreated sewage discharge, solid waste dumping, and toxic industrial effluents.
- Capacity Reduction: It carrying capacity has dropped from an original peak of 5,600 cusecs to just 2,850 cusecs, escalating severe urban flood risks during the monsoon season.
- Navigation Loss: Heavy siltation and a shallow draught (less than 1 metre) prevent modern vessels from operating.
Strategic Importance & Revival Plans
- Flood Management: If properly desilted and managed, the canal serves as a vital flood carrier to empty heavy rainwater into the sea, safeguarding Chennai from catastrophic floods.
- National Waterway Status: In 2016, the Central Government declared the North Buckingham Canal (316 km) and South Buckingham Canal (110 km) as integral components of National Waterway-4 (NW-4).
- The 2026 Initiative: The active ₹876.35-crore plan focuses on clearing encroachments, intensive desilting, and eco-restoration to revive water transport and tourism in central Chennai.
