Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will develop two eco bloc-based sponge parks at existing playgrounds at Thiruvottiyur’s Burma Nagar (ward 16) and Jothi Nagar (ward 4), for nearly ₹10 crore. The parks will be developed under GCC’s capital fund to address waterlogging and improve rainwater storage in the zones. The timeline to appoint contractors and begin work is unclear.The Burma Nagar sponge park has been proposed for about ₹4.99 crore. DMK councillor for the zone, A Rajendran, said the sponge park was required as several parts of Thiruvottiyur continue to face water stagnation during heavy rain. “Water has been stagnating for years at areas such as Burma Nagar and Manali’s Sadayappan Kuppam. We hope this park helps address it,” he said.Another sponge park will come up at the Jothi Nagar playground for about ₹4.995 crore. Ward 4 CPM councillor R Jayaraman said, “This park will help store rain water and increase recreational activities. Residents want more play equipment and infrastructure in the ward.”Under the eco bloc technology, water storage systems temporarily hold excess rainwater and allow it to be absorbed into the ground, reducing surface runoff. Unlike conventional concrete structures, sponge parks — also known as rain gardens or bioretention areas — use permeable surfaces and infiltration systems that allow water to seep into the soil. The storage is designed with multiple filtration layers — gravel, sand biofilters, along with plants and vegetation. The space also functions as a regular public park, providing recreational areas for residents.GCC has been developing sponge parks as part of its flood mitigation efforts under initiatives such as Singara Chennai 2.0 and schemes such as Namakku Naame Thittam. It has built more than 80 sponge parks across the city, at areas such as Korattur, Velachery, and Sholinganallur.Residents say that maintenance is crucial for the long-term success of such projects. “Once parks are constructed, GCC forgets about them and doesn’t maintain them properly. These structures need regular desilting and cleaning to prevent clogging. People should avoid littering and be responsible while using the facilities,” said Vandhana Charan, a resident of Manali.
