Chennai: Workshop on “Managing Urban Rivers — From Planning to Practice”

Government of India

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Government of India

Chennai: Workshop on “Managing Urban Rivers — From Planning to Practice”

18th-19th September, 2025

About the Event

The River Cities Alliance has expanded its engagement with the southern part of India, with the state of Tamil Nadu as the first pitstop

12 member cities of the RCA came together in Chennai for a two-day workshop on “Managing Urban Rivers: From Planning to Practice” — marking RCA’s first-ever engagement in Tamil Nadu. Before the workshop, the RCA Secretariat engaged in encouraging interactions with Ms. Kakarla Usha, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, and Sh. Thiru P. Madhusudhan Reddy, IAS, Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration — laying a strong foundation for collaboration with Tamil Nadu cities.

Day 1 featured insightful discussions on urban river challenges, with Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, NIUA and Sh. Nalin Srivastava, DG, NMCG, officially welcoming the 12 cities into the RCA. Day 2 focused on the Urban River Management Plan (URMP) framework, the role of urban rivers in sustainable development and water security, and a special session by Dr. Uday Bhonde on groundwater management and NbS.

Sector partners like the Chennai River Restoration Trust and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority enriched the discussion by sharing local good practices. The workshop concluded with an inspiring address by Ms. Selvi R. Anamika, IAS, Joint Commissioner, DMA, calling for urban river management to be mainstreamed into city planning.