A view of the restored Buckingham Canal at Killai in Cuddalore district after the strengthening of the dykes. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Cuddalore District Administration restored a 3 km clogged section of the historic Buckingham Canal at Killai in Pichavaram by removing plastic waste and invasive Prosporis juliflora as part of the Climate Resilient Village project in Tamil Nadu.
Nearly 600 local villagers participated in the desilting of the canal, which has now restored the flow of water between the mangroves in Pichavaram and the surrounding water bodies.
Tamil Nadu has identified 11 climate resilient villages across the state to strengthen community climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration. Among them, Killai Town Panchayat in Cuddalore district is the first village to implement the Climate Resilient Village project, a flagship initiative of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM).
According to B. Iqbal, Forest Range Officer (FRO), Pichavaram Range, “The canal was clogged with plastic waste and a major ecological restoration project was launched in October to revive it. Workers desilted the canal to restore the natural flow of water connecting the mangrove ecosystem to the adjacent water bodies. They cleared more than 750 kg of plastic waste and invasive waterways.”
“More than 3,000 native mangrove seedlings – Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, Avicennia marina and Avicennia officinalis – have been planted along the banks of the canal to enhance coastal biodiversity, prevent erosion and build resilience against cyclones and tidal waves,” he added.
Rejuvenation of the Buckingham Canal will improve water flow, boost mangrove regeneration, support local fishermen’s livelihoods and increase coastal climate resilience.
According to Cuddalore Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar, “The project implemented in two wards in Killai Town Panchayat shows how coastal villages can adapt to climate change. The main idea is to sustain livelihoods during adverse events such as cyclones or floods by building resilience through restored ecosystems and sustainable practices.”
“A canal that was almost dead has been revived, embankments strengthened and water flow restored. Solar e-boats have also been introduced in the village, while a project management unit is collecting real-time data on climate impacts and water levels. Various other activities are also planned, including solar construction of buildings, installation of rainwater harvesting, recycling and value addition for tribal communities.”
Published – 14 March 2026 21:03 IST
