Lok Sabha Question No. 1133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Buckingham Canal
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133

ANSWERED ON 22107/2022

## BUCKINGHAM CANAL

## 1133, SHRI T.R, BAALU:

Willthe Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS  be pleased to state: vfr{, +dcft-f,f,r  rfuq-{cFf  {'ff

- (a)whether the Government  has noticed that no development  works have been taken up on Buckingham Canal since its declaration as a National  Waterway;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the details of plans  to make  the National  Waterway  Buckingham Canal navigable by large mechanically  propelled inland  vessels  for transporlation  of cargo?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS. SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a to c) Buckingham  Canal consisting  of 316 km long North Buckingham  Canal (Pedaganjam  to Central Station Chennai)  and 110 km long South Buckingham  Canal (Central  Station  Chennai  to Marakanam)  is part  of National  Waterway  -  4 which was declared in 2008. Subsequent  to declaration,  Detailed Project Report (DPR) was completed  in March, 2010 and the details are at Annex-|.  As per the findings of Detailed Project  Reporl (DPR),  Buckingham  Canal has many low level bridges,  defunct structures and subjected  to encroachments  and hence not found suitable for development.

ln view of above and with the development of road and rail network parallel to the Buckingham Canal which is in the vicinity of East Coast,  there is no plan to develop Buckingham  Canal at preseni.

## Status of Buckingham Canal as a part of National  Watenaray'4

Detailed  Project Report (DPR) for development of navigation  in Kakinada  Puducherry canal along with river Godavari and Krishna of entire NW4 was completed in March 20'10. As per DPR, Buckingham canal consists of two stretches:-

1. North Buckingham  canal  (Pedaganjam  to Central Station of Chennai)  - 316 km; and
2. South Buckingham canal (Central Station  of Chennai to Marakanam)  -'1 10 km

Both the above stretches  of Buckingham  canal are tidal canals and remain dry during non-monsoon  periods.50  km stretch  connecting  North and South Buckingham canals in Chennai  city is totally in abandoned  condition and Govt. of Tamil Nadu has allowed Mass Rapid Transport  System (MRTS), to construct  Elevated Railway Stations right over the canal and columns of MRTS  flyover bridges are within the canal bed itself and in certain places, the  pedestal  foundation  of column is exposed above the canal bed. Therefore,  there is no navigation  possible in the Chennai stretch and DPR recommends not taking up this stretch  for IWT development. The remaining stretches  of Buckingham canal has a total of 52 nos. bridges out of which 28 nos. of bridges are to be modified or reconstructed  to provide  desired horizontal and vertical clearances  to allow passage of design size of inland vessel. The survey of the canal indicated  that the canal is silted  at many  places  and embankments  on either bank of some portions also leveled.  Further,  there are defunct lock structures  and many portions  of the canal are subjected to encroachments.