Buckingham Canal: History, National Waterway 4, Importance & Challenges

Explore Buckingham Canal, its history, route, National Waterway 4 status, role in Chennai’s flood management, navigation potential and key challenges.

Table of Contents

Context

The Buckingham Canal is again in focus as authorities consider restoring a 7.2-km central Chennai stretch for navigation and urban water management.

About Buckingham Canal

Location: Coastal canal running through Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu along India’s east coast.
Extent: About 450 km long, with roughly 250 km in Andhra Pradesh and 200 km in Tamil Nadu.
Historical Name: Originally constructed as Cochrane Canal in 1806 and later renamed Buckingham Canal in 1878.
Importance: Historically served as a cheap inland waterway for transporting goods and passengers along the east coast.

Historical Development

Expansion: The canal was gradually extended northwards from Chennai towards Pulicat Lake and Dugarajapatnam.
Navigation: It was once linked with the Krishna and Godavari canal systems, creating a navigable network of about 650 km.
Decline: Navigation weakened with the expansion of road and rail transport, while pollution and encroachments further reduced its utility.

Importance for Chennai

Flood Management: A properly maintained canal can act as an important flood carrier during heavy rainfall.
Navigation: Sections have periodically been restored for boat movement, including a 14-km southern stretch between Thoraipakkam and Muttukadu.
National Waterway: The North and South Buckingham Canal form part of National Waterway 4.

Challenges: Industrial and sewage pollution, encroachments, reduced canal width, infrastructure construction, and declining navigability have degraded the waterway.