Have an idea to improve Buckingham canal but never got a chance to share them with authorities? 
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German federal ministry for the environment in coordination with corporation and city-based NGOs has declared a competition whereas best ideas will be selected to renovate the 3.5km Buckingham canal running through the heart of the city from Kotturpuram till Thiruvanmiyur.

Though primarily constructed to transport goods from Vijayawada to Madras, the canal also helps manage floodwater and regulate the ecosystem vital for the city. “Archival photographs show the canal to be an idyllic setting with lush green edges and wooden catamarans cruising its course. Today, however, the canal is faced with severe pollution with untreated sewage and solid waste being dumped into it. The encroachments have also severely compromised its width and carrying capacity over long stretches within the Chennai Metropolitan area and have drastically reduced the canal’s capacity as a source of livelihood for the population. Though many government agencies have tried to revive it, they have failed. So, we wanted the residents to act as active stakeholders and reimagine the canal,” said one of the organisers of the project.