Sponge parks put on hold as GCC shifts focus to restoring lakes
The Greater Chennai Corporation is shifting its urban planning strategy from building 'sponge parks' to restoring existing lakes to manage rainwater. Officials noted that sponge parks have shown limited effectiveness in Chennai's clay-heavy soil compared to natural waterbody restoration.
Why it matters
This reflects a shift in climate adaptation strategies for urban centers, prioritizing natural infrastructure over artificial interventions.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) would prioritise restoration of existing lakes over creating new sponge parks, even as the civic body has completed work on 30 of the 32 sponge parks planned over the past two years.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mayor R. Priya said sponge parks were initially conceived as an artificial intervention to improve rainwater absorption. However, the Corporation had found better results by restoring and strengthening existing waterbodies. “Instead of sponge parks, we have taken up restoration of many lakes. Every lake already has a natural bund. We have strengthened the bunds, created proper walking paths and carried out safety measures. We have seen better results through this approach,” she said.
The then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced in the State Budget for 2025-26 that seven climate-resilient sponge parks would be established across the Chennai Metropolitan Area at an estimated cost of ₹88 crore.
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