CHITRA NAGAR : A BEST CASE FLOOD RESILIENT COMMUNITY

Situated on the inner banks of a horse-shoe bend of the Adyar river, Chitra Nagar-Kotturpuram tenements is a low-income slum resettlement housing scheme set up by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. It was one of the worst hit areas during November-December 2015 Floods. Leading to immense loss of life and property, the settlement housing approximately 10,000 people routinely floods even with the slightest rainfall. In addition to being naturally flood prone, limited access to potable and non-potable water, poor solid waste management and lack of access to sanitation facilities affect the settlement’s health and living conditions further. Along the edge of the Adyar, a prominent river bund approximately 1m high acts as a run-off barrier hence crippling the settlement further at the time of disaster.

The Chitra Nagar housing scheme will be retrofitted to close the water loop through water collection, recycling and recharge, as well as solid waste management: giving residents a reliable and clean source of water while preventing chronic floods and standing water. Nature Based solutions are proposed for in-situ sewage treatment and sanitation schemes are developed to improve the overall health of the population. A community engagement program will ensure that the systems are understood, accepted and well-maintained by residents.