155

CHAPTER 8
GREEN-COVER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE
CHENNAI CITY

8.1 INTRODUCTION
Trees are important biophysical element of the urban system which
maintains the ecological process in the cities. Due to that, trees are
emerging as ‘essential infrastructure’ of the urban areas. Irrespective of
the socio-economic status and location where one live in a city, each one
is in the need of tree’s three services (refer Chapter 2). Therefore,
developing them across the Chennai city becomes essential, particularly
for its future environmental sustainability. From the observation at the
sample area, it has been found that the current efforts to improve
Chennai city’s greeneries are impeded by three prevailing situations.
They are, fragmentation and attrition of Chennai city’s green-spaces, as
well disregarding the local conditions while carryout the plantation.
These factors and the environmental crisis demand an appropriate
planning framework to restore the required green-cover in the Chennai
city.
This research proposes the six step green-cover development process
for Chennai city. The first step, comprehends the context for the green-
cover development in Chennai city at four levels, namely city level,
neighborhood level, street level and plot level. Secondly, it compiles the
information required for the green-cover development, including the
constraints and feasibility at these four levels. The third step identifies
issues to be tackled at various level of green-cover development at the
four levels for each zone.
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The fourth step evolves the planning framework for various levels
and phases of green-cover development for each zone. According to this
framework, the next step proposes the green-cover development plan for
the Chennai city at city level, neighborhood level, street level and plot
level. Finally it identifies the tools and mechanism to implement this
proposal in the Chennai city. Each of these steps are elaborated below,

8.2 THE PLANNING CONTEXT FOR GREEN-COVER

DEVELOPMENT
In order to set the context for Chennai city’s green cover
development it reviews the three key issues pertaining to green-cover
development. They are, 1. Environmental issues, 2. Social issues and
3.Management issues. These issues are appraised through analyzing the
sample area of the four zones of Chennai city. They are listed at
different spatial levels of Chennai city, namely, city level, ward level,
street level and plot level (Table 8.1). The social and management
issues are common for all zones, the environmental issues are more in
the zone one and zone two compare to other zones.
Currently the greeneries of the Chennai city are looked after by three
organizations (parks department of Chennai corporation, forestry
department and highway department of Government of Tamil Nadu).
Each of these organizations is working individually focusing only within
their department, not concerned with the remaining two. As a result,
whenever issues related to Chennai city’s green-covers arise, many
times are resolved in a compromise manner within the individual
department itself. For example, the park department is not consulted,
while cutting trees for road widening project or clearing urban
woodlands for urban developments and so on. Because the Chennai city
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does green-cover management system by three departments, the other

departments don’t know whom should they contact before executing
their project. So they simply chop the plant whichever hinders their
duty, thus cause conflicts between the urban plantation and other
development activities. Therefore, there is a big gap between the amount
of tree-cover loss and the successes of urban plantation in the Chennai
city.

8.3 THE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR THE GREEN-

COVER IMPROVEMENT
This step lists the required information for Chennai city’s green-
cover development, through analyzing the factors that influence urban
green-cover at various levels (Table 8.2). The intention is that,
examining this information will reveal major problems, constraints and
potential for the green-cover development in the Chennai city. From the
analysis of these factors, it lists the major problems, constraints for the
Chennai city’s green cover development at various levels (Table 8.3). It
also identified important natural processes to be restored or established
at city level, neighborhood level, street level and plot level (Table 8.4).

8.4 THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE GREEN-COVER

DEVELOPMENT AT VARIOUS SPATIAL LEVELS
This step outlines key planning objectives for the green-cover
development through analyzing existing problems and constraints at
various levels. They are listed along with the problems and constraints
in the Table 8.3.
Table 8.1 Issues pertaining to green-cover development
Environmental issues
City The overall environmental
level performance of Chennai city has
gone down considerably (refer
chapter 5).
The intensifying urbanization
reduced the flora and fauna
diversity within the city.
The increasing concrete surfaces
raised the Chennai city’s local
temperature.
Many parts of the Chennai city is
getting flooded, during the
intensive downpour.
The reduced rainwater
infiltration processes, lowered
Chennai city’s ground water
table.
Social issues
Government’s is not realizing
the individuals or volunteers
potential to improve Chennai
city’s greeneries.
In Chennai city most of the
plantations are carried out
either by government or by the
NGOs. However, the
coordination is missing
between the public and the
private groups.
It has been observed that, due
to lack of information sharing,
conflicts and confusions are
occurring between the
development of greeneries and
various activities at different
parts of the Chennai city.
Management issues
Chennai city is missing separate
department to monitor the green-cover
improvement activities. Currently the
forestry department, the corporation
department and the highway
department monitor in a fragmented
way.
Chennai city needs appropriate
guidelines and policy to implement the
green-cover plan.
Chennai city needs ordinance to
protect the greeneries.
Lack of research to identify or develop
the knowledge bank to guide the urban
plantation in the Chennai city.
Chennai city needs optimization in the
financial and human resource use.
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Ward Surface runoff is more in the
level Zone one and Zone two wards.
The infiltration process is under
stress in the zone three and zone
four due to spreading concrete
surfaces.
The surface radiation is more in
zone one and zone two and this
is in increasing end in the zone
three and zone four due to
receding greeneries.
Air quality in the ward one and
two are considerably reduced
because of increasing traffic
volume. Wards in the zone three
and zone four also experiencing
high pollution along the road
networks.
Street Most of the streets in the
level Chennai city have poor visual
quality mainly in the zone one
Table 8.1 (continued)
From the analysis of four case
study areas it has been found
that many people are not aware
of the values and benefits of
trees, other than physical
comfort which trees are
providing.
Seldom, few people are
involved in developing
greeneries in their locality, as a
volunteers or leisure activity.
It is also observed that at the
ward level plantation is not
keeping pace with the urban
development.
The number of social groups,
NGOs is inadequate to meet
the development pressure.
From the interaction with the
locals it has been found that,
missing sense of ownership on
Being a big metro, Chennai city
missing enough number of authority
people to monitor the green-cover
activities.
All together, Chennai city doesn’t
have long term planning strategies to
raise the proportion of large-stature
trees for greater canopy effects in the
near future.
Lack of coordination in the green-
cover development activities in the
Chennai city, cause waste of human
and financial resources.
Missing cooperation between the
green-cover development and other
urban departments, significantly
affects the Chennai city’s greeneries.
In Chennai city, the road widening
activities fail to balance the plantation
159
process with the tree removal.
 and zone two. the street trees among the
Table 8.1 (continued)

Due to traffic and less tree cover community is one of the prime It is also observed that Chennai city
air pollution is more in the major reasons for declining tree- altogether is missing species and age
roads including zone three and cover. diversity for long-term tree cover
zone four. stability.
It is also found that not
Surface radiation and glare is considering the requisite of the To safeguard the street trees, Chennai
more in many streets particularly onsite activity during the city require appropriate planning
in zone one and zone two. plantation is one of the major strategies, to regulate different
cause, which is hampering the department’s activities.
Roads in zone one, zone two and Chennai’s green-cover.
zone three are completely paved
by asphalt and concrete, surface
runoff is more in those areas.
Plot Air quality in many plots is poor, From the overall observation Chennai development authority
level particularly plots that devoid of people of Chennai city is not doesn’t have proper regulation
trees and other vegetations. aware of various benefits of regarding plot level greeneries.
trees, other than its shade
Plots that are completely paved value. It is not possible for the NGOs or
with built structure, mainly in government to take care of entire
zone one and zone two, support It is also observed that people Chennai city’s greeneries. Therefore,
less infiltration. of Chennai city has great public participation is vital to achieve

160
passion for greening their plot the goal.

The surface radiation is more in
the plots of zone one and zone
two, due to complete paving.
Increased air temperature, air
pollution causing poor physical
comfort to people.
and surroundings, which is
great asset. It should be
Table 8.1 (continued)
However, it is highly difficult to force
appreciated in order to improve the individuals to maintain the
the environmental condition of greeneries in there plot. Therefore
the Chennai city. offering incentives and benefit
program would encourage the
Above all, individual in the individual plot owners to maintain
community should be educated tree-cover.
about plants, species selection,
plantation, and maintenance.

Table 8.2 Required information for the Chennai city’s green-cover development at various levels
Phase of Source Scale
green-cover Information required
development
City level Chennai city’s Geomorphological information. Geological Survey of India 1:50,000
green cover
development Chennai city’s physiographic information such as Geological Survey of India 1: 50,000
slope, elevation etc. Geological history of Chennai
city.

161
Soil information State Agriculture department 1:20,000
 Table 8.2 (continued)

Information regarding history of flooding in the Chennai Metropolitan water 1:20,000

Chennai city in the form of map as well data. supply and sewerage board

Cartographic information about water bodies, Survey of India. 1:20,000

flood plains.

Information about existing forests and other green- State forestry department and 1:5000
spaces in the Chennai city. The flora and fauna of Park department of Chennai
Chennai city and their habitat. Information corporation, state botanical
regarding plants that grows in around Chennai gardens.
city, i.e. Regional plant list.

The Meteorological information of Chennai. Regional meteorological center,

Ward-level Chennai city’s ward wise population density Chennai corporation 1:5000
green cover
development The existing land-use of Chennai. Chennai Metropolitan
development authority (CMDA) 1:5000
The park, public open-spaces and other green
spaces that exist in and around the study area. Chennai Metropolitan
Chennai city’s development control rule, for development authority 1:5000
various parts of the city.

162
 Table 8.2 (continued)

Information regarding hierarchy of road networks Chennai Metropolitan

in Chennai city. development authority, State 1:5000
Transport department

Data regarding public and private spaces in the State land survey department 1:5000
Chennai city.

Detail of built and un-built spaces within the study Through satellite data from state 1:500
area. center for remote sensing
application.

Drainage pattern of Chennai city. Chennai Metropolitan water 1:1000

supply and sewerage board
Street level Information regarding the urban utilities such as Onsite observation, and from the 1:1000
green cover water supply line, sewerage line, storm water lines, concern utility departments.
development electrical line, telephone line and other cable lines
along the Chennai city roads.

Details of traffic volume in the roads of Chennai State Transport department

city.
The physical details of roads such as width,
carriage way, pedestrian path, medians etc and Onsite observation 1:100

163
their surface treatment within the study area.
 Table 8.2 (continued)

Land use of abutting lands along the Chennai Onsite observation 1:1000
city’s road network.

The various activity patterns along the Chennai’s Onsite observation

roads.
Plot level The size of the plot at different zones of Chennai Onsite observation 1:500
green-cover city.
plan
The building setback at zone one, zone two, zone Chennai Metropolitan 1:200
three and zone four. development authority and onsite
observation.
The building function and land use of the plot. Onsite observation

The percentage of impermeable surfaces in each Onsite observation 1:200

plot.

Outgoing or incoming above and below ground Onsite observation 1:200

service lines.

Land value and ownership of the plots. Onsite observation 1:200

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Table 8.3 Problems, constraints and objective for the green-cover development
Phase of
green-cover Existing problems Constraints Objective
development
City level Fragmentation and attrition Population growth and intensity Link the green spaces to
green cover of green-spaces prevailing of urbanization process. enhance the natural processes.
plan in all parts of Chennai city.

The spatial distribution of Not enough information on Evenly distribute the green-
green-space is not uniform green space and other cover across the city, by
in Chennai city. ecologically sensitive areas in regulating the developments.
Chennai city.

Urbanization process Not including the ecological Protect the ecologically

threatening the ecologically components in Chennai’s sensitive areas and open space
sensitive areas such as, physical development plan. resources and increase the
aquifers, water fronts, river biological diversity.
mouths in the Chennai city.

.
Ward level Reducing green spaces at Violation of development Safeguard the ward level green
green cover zone two and three. regulation at various parts of space of Chennai city from the
plan Chennai city. development pressure by
means of ordinances.

165

Distributions of green-
spaces are not even.
The ward level green-space
of Chennai city is not
functionally integrated with
land use.
Encroachment like slum,
vendors and unorganized
parking are occupies most
of the ward level open
spaces in Chennai city.
Street level Most of Chennai city’s
green cover street plantation is carried
plan out by urban forestry wing
without any vision.
Increasing traffic and
vehicular pollution affect
Chennai city’s tree cover.
Table 8.3 (continued)
Swelling population and
development pressure
Missing urban ordinance to
manage and to develop
Chennai’s greeneries.
The people’s attitude like ready
to compromise the green spaces
for development.
Inadequate space along the
Chennai city’s road is the major
constraints for tree-cover
development.
Incompatible plantation.
Institute hierarchy of green
spaces at variety of scales, such
as major parks, minor parks,
wide and narrow corridors, etc.
Formulate multi-functional
framework for development,
protection, conservation and
restoration of natural areas at
ward level.
Identify and protect the
environmentally sensitive areas
in the ward level for long term
benefits.
Increase the appropriate
planting along Chennai city’s
road which could respond
onsite conditions.
Identify the compatible species
and probable area to increase
166
the street trees.
 Table 8.3 (continued)

The recurring maintenance Missing coordination among Evolve appropriate ordinance,

work of various urban various utility departments of to reduce the conflict between
utility departments. Chennai city and urban forest the tree and other urban utility
wing creates lots of conflicts. lines in Chennai street.

The street trees of Chennai The street trees are maintained Evolve appropriate mechanism
city altogether missing the by inefficient / multiple to protect the road side trees
maintenance. authorities. from urban development.

Plot level Many houses in the Chennai Misconceptions like all plants Educate and motivate the
green-cover city have only shrubs and will cause structural damage to individual, through providing
plan ground covers as an the buildings. some incentives.
ornamental element.
Minimize the harshness of the
Most of the houses except in Missing development regulation built area in the zone one and
the zone five and few are in for plot level greeneries zone two by incorporating
zone four are lacking Lack of motivation for green- vegetations.
appropriate greeneries to cover development.
shade building. Involve individual plot /
parcels owners and real estate
Many emerging apartment Development pressure. developers to improve the
buildings are mostly paved. greeneries at plot level.

167
Table 8.4 Natural processes to be restored or established at each level
Phase of
green-cover Natural process to be restored
development
City level  The surface radiation has to be reduced in zone one, zone two and part of zone three.
green cover  Infiltration process should be improved in order to recover Chennai’s ground water level.
plan  Reduce the surface runoff in order to control the monsoon flooding in Chennai city.
 Enhance the Chennai city’s biodiversity.
Ward level  Reduce the impermeable surfaces to minimize surface runoff and surface radiation
green cover particularly in zone one and zone two wards.
plan  Increase permeable ground surfaces to improve the infiltration processes in the wards.
 Many wards in the zone one and zone two have scanty green-spaces, so increase the green
space to improve the biodiversity.
 The air quality of ward should be improved in most part, particularly along the roads.
Street level  Protect the road surface from direct solar radiation.
green cover  Try to minimize the surface runoff.
plan  Reduce the harshness of the road and improve the visual quality.
 Improve air quality along the major roads through improving the air filtration process.
Plot level  Improve the infiltration process by reducing impermeable surfaces at plot level.
green-cover  Improve the physical comfort at plot level by reducing the surface radiation
plan  Improve the air quality at plot level by filtering airborne particulates.

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8.5 THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK

This step identifies the planning framework for various phase of
green-cover development. They are given in the following Table 8.5.
Table 8.5 Planning framework for plantation
Phase of
green-cover Planning framework for plantation
development
City level Protect the ecologically sensitive area by plantation.
green cover
plan Identify appropriate plant for various sensitive areas
like flood plain, edges of the water bodies and
estuaries, which can enhance the natural process.

Establish ecological network through connecting

the green spaces by means of plantation.
Neighborhood Fragmented and isolated green-space of the Chennai
or ward level should be integrated into a network by plantation.
green cover
plan Enhance ecosystem services at ward level by
improving quality and diversity of the green space.
Link various natural areas such as surface water,
natural woods, small parks, and country side by
appropriate green-cover development.

Interconnect the ward level green spaces with other

green-spaces in the street and recreational areas.

Develop appropriate green-spaces close to high-

density residential areas in order to improve the
physical comfort.
Street level For each street of Chennai city, evolve compatible
green cover plantation program in coordination with other urban
plan utility departments, such as sewerage and water
supply and electrical services.

Interlink the Chennai city’s street level green-spaces

with the other green space.

Establish shade area for pedestrian movements.

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Table 8.5 (continued)

Plant suitable species, which can cause minimum
disturbance to the onsite condition.

In the wider roads establish stepping stone

connection between the two side tree lines through
median plantation.
Plot level Fix amount of green-cover as compulsory at each
green-cover plot by internalizing it in the development
plan regulation.

List the appropriate plant for the residential area and

their physical character like, area required for
plantation and its physical property etc. Also
identify and suggest suitable plantation for various
land uses.
8.6 THE GREEN-COVER DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Based on the above frame work the Chennai city’s green-cover
development plan is evolved. This has been carried out by adapting
Walmsley’s (2005) three step processes. They are, inventorying present,
identifying the proposed and envisaging the potential.
a. Inventorying present
This step tries to identify all the potential spaces in the Chennai city
to develop green-space network. From analyzing the present condition,
it tries to locate the existing open spaces and green spaces, all lands that
are presently preserved as state parks, municipal parks, forests, refuges,
and non profit preserved lands, etc.
b. Identifying the proposed
This second step, appraises all the proposals in the Chennai city to
identify lands that have been demarcated for green space development
such as, proposal like ecological preservation, park development and
proposed open spaces at the city level, ward level also proposal like
greenways.
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c. Envisaging the potential

Besides the above two, this third step tries to identify lands that are
locally significant for its ecological, scenic, cultural and recreational
value, which can be potential for the developing greeneries. It also
identifies all the underutilized or misused vacant sites in the Chennai
city for green-cover development.
Together from these steps, two forms of potential areas, namely, the
patches and the corridor elements (linear areas) – will be identified to
establish the green-cover network within the Chennai city. Some of the
common areas that could function as patches in the Chennai city’s built
milieu are:
 Areas under protection, includes Guindy national parks, adyar
creek, wetlands and theosophical society area etc.
 Publicly owned lands like green spaces in the institutional areas
such as IIT, Anna University and CLRI campus, etc., and areas that
offer recreational values places like public parks, memorials, and
lands like cemeteries etc.
 Wooden remnants in the public and private lands.
Some of the linear / corridor elements, which can link those above
patches, together make the green network. They are
 Natural areas like water fronts and flood plains of adyar river,
Coovam River, Buckingham canal, various lakes within the
Chennai city.
 Greenbelts in around industrial areas.
 Wooded streets
Combining these two forms, the green development plan for
Chennai city is proposed at four spatial levels. They are, plot level,
street level, ward level and city level.
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8.6.1 The city level green cover plan

The city level plan is trying to establish the natural processes in
Chennai city. It has been widely emphasized by many researches that
the planning which aims to protect the natural process should start with
identifying the processes at work in nature. In other words attempt to
restore the ecological process in the Chennai city, should identify the
areas where it is naturally occur such as recharging area, atmospheric
carbon sinking area, wild life habitat areas and so on. The flood plains
of Adyar and Cooum River, wetlands in around velechery area, salt pans
in the ennore area are some of the ecologically critical areas in the
Chennai city. Identifying and protecting these areas are critical for
future sustainability of Chennai city. Most of these areas are under
major threat from the industrial growth, population growth and other
socio-economic development. However, the ever increasing socio-
economic pressure, infrastructure development already caused
fragmentation and attrition of these sensitive areas in the Chennai.
Therefore, in order to restore these areas the Chennai’s city level green
cover plan is proposed in two modes of operation. They are 1. Increase
the canopy covered area of Chennai city through identifying potential
areas and 2. Link the fragmented natural areas by means of the
appropriate corridor elements.
This has been carried out in three steps. In the first step, potential
hub or block of critical areas that support the natural process within the
Chennai city such as, aquifer recharging area, banks of the water bodies
and wetlands are delineated for increasing the canopy covered area.
Secondly, the existing fragmented natural vegetative areas in the
Chennai city are identified with the help of sub meter satellite image. In
the third step, potential landscape linkage area is identified to connect
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the fragmented green spaces within the Chennai city. Then the weighted
land use map is developed through assigning weightages based on each
land use’s potential to accommodate the greeneries in terms of space
and the socio-economic activities. The land use map is obtained from
the master plan of CMDA. The weightages are done under five
categories. They are 1. Best – open spaces, public lands, and reserved
forests 2. Very Good – institutional, non urban areas 3. Good –
industrial 4.Fair –residential areas 5. Worst – commercial areas.

Figure 8.1 City level suitability map for green cover improvement.

Through combining all the three layers in the ArcGIS 9 spatial

analysist, the city level green cover plan for Chennai city has been
developed as shown in the Figure 8.1.
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8.6.2 The ward level green cover plan

As McHarg (1969) said in his ‘Design with Nature’, absolute
problem lies not in the absolute area but in the distribution of the natural
service providing area evenly across the given landscape. Therefore,
Chennai city’s ward level green cover plan aims to improve the natural
processes through interfusing the green space area in between the built
milieu. Using the neighborhood level strategies, the ward level green-
cover plan has been carried out in two steps. Firstly, identifying the
potential area, to develop possible green patches within the ward of
Chennai city. Such areas could be, loose fit landscapes, parks,
community reserves, cemeteries, islands of road intersections, natural
water bodies and forest remnants are the few potential spaces to develop
the green patches in the city.
Secondly, link the city level and the street level green spaces with
these ward level green spaces of the Chennai city. The studies like
Flores (1998) emphasize that within the highly fragmented urban
landscape, maintaining connectivity among the green spaces is vital for
natural process. However, the major impediment to establish the green
net works at Chennai city’s ward level is the lack of continuity in the
existing open space system. From the analysis, it has been found that
the institutional areas in the Chennai city are having considerable
amount of natural areas. That can make up the missing ecological links
at the neighborhood level. Apart from these two, green belts in the
industrial area of Chennai city also contribute considerably to the green
space net works. Based on the neighborhood level strategies the
potential area for the urban green cover network has been identified as
shown in Figure 8.2.
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8.6.3 The Street level green cover plan

The swelling population on the Chennai city demands for the ‘total
communication’ and the ‘maximum accessibility’ in the urban net work.
The resulting infrastructure developments are both fragmenting the
natural areas of the Chennai city and also affect trees growth (Figure8.3,
Figure 8.4, and Figure 8.5). The above ground activities in the Chennai

Figure 8.2 Potential areas for green cover improvement at ward level

city’s street such as, movement of vehicles, electrical lines, signage

affects upward and horizontal growth of the trees in the urban area. And
the below ground utilities along the streets such as, cables, water supply
lines and sewerage lines affect the growth of roots. In the recent times,
 176

most of the Chennai city’s roads are either getting widened or new over-
bridges are coming up, that chopped of many of the mature trees in the
Chennai city. Above all, wide range of street’s function (refer Chapter
7) causes lots of spatial and environmental constraints to

Figure 8.3 Typical Figure 8.4 Typical Figure 8.5 Typical

conflicts between conflicts between tree conflicts between
overhead electrical and drainage tree and traffic line
line and tree in the channels in the in the Chennai city.
Chennai city. Chennai city

incorporate the tree lines along the roads of Chennai city. Understanding
the functional and physical characteristics of the road will help to
integrate the tree-lines effectively with other activities. According to
built-up morphology of the Chennai city, streets can be grouped into
three types 1. Street - where the gaps in the densely built-up areas
behaves like street. For example, the interior streets of zone one, where
all the buildings are wall to wall constructed. Here the building-lines
define the streets (Figure 8.6). 2. Roads (Figure 8.7) – this is planned
one characterized by pathways, pavements, tree lines etc. However,
narrow roads may or may not have well defined path ways, with or
without tree lines along the road. Paths starts from the road curbs extend
up to the building line or compound wall. In the commercial areas
mostly paved pathways extend between the road curb to the building
line (Figure 8.8), in the planned residential area, the path way is
extended between the road curb to the compound wall. Most of the
 177

Chennai city roads in the residential areas are narrow one. 3. Wider
roads are characterized by road dividers and paved pathways with or
without tree lines along the road (Figure 8.11). They are either main
arterial roads or sub arterial roads of Chennai city.
The potential areas often used for increasing the tree cover in the
streets are pathways along the roads. But the streets in the commercial
area of Chennai city, space are the major constraints for developing the
new greeneries. This is because both the narrow paths and the heavy
volume of vehicular traffics put major constraints for plantation along
the roads of the Chennai city. The major alternative can be encouraging
the plot owners to plant the trees in their front set back (Figure 8.9).
Vegetations in the front setback together can form green networks for
the Chennai’s road (Figure 8.10). In turn plot owners will get following
benefits from the vegetation, 1. Filter the particulate pollutants result
from the heavy traffic volume along the road. 2. Curb the surface solar
radiation of street. 3. Improve the living comfort. Using the street level
strategies, possible urban green network at the street level for the
Chennai has been proposed as shown in Figure 8.12.

8.6.4 The plot level green-cover plan

Improving the plot level green spaces will significantly enhance the
overall environmental performances of the Chennai city effectively. In
the intensively built areas such as, zone one and zone two, developing
the green patches could restore the optimum ecological process. These
include intercepting rain water, slowing the runoff, inducing percolation,
and ameliorate the local temperature by means of shading and
evaporation. These green patches also provide -habitat for urban wilds.
 178

Figure 8.6 Narrow streets of Figure 8.9 In Chennai’s narrow

Chennai city hardly have any streets, front setback area could
space for tree. be an alternative space for
plantation.

Figure 8.7 Few residential roads

having space for planning at both
sides in Chennai city.

Figure 8.10 Tree lined front

Figure 8.8 Plots in commercial setback area will function as
streets of Chennai city hardly have wooded corridors for
setback areas. Chennai city.

Figure 8.11 Some arterial roads of Chennai city have enough

space for plantation at the both the side as well in the middle.
 179

Figure 8.12 Potential areas for green network at street level.

Most of the plots in the zone four, zone three and zone two has
considerable amount of space around the building as set back.
Maintaining two or three trees in each plot can easily increase the
Chennai city’s overall green-covered areas (Figure 8.13, Figure 8.14).
However, the plot level greeneries can be achieved only by encouraging
the individuals, by offering incentives like tax concession or
development concession for maintaining the green spaces.

8.7 MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTATION

In order to execute the four level green-cover plan, appropriate
implementation mechanism is essential. This step analyzes different
ways of implementing the above green-cover proposals. The
implementing mechanism can be broadly grouped into acquiring,
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controlling and public participation. Each one of them is elaborated in

the Table 8.6. In addition to that the following approaches also could
increase the greeneries in the Chennai city

a. Retrofitting narrow vehicular street as green-covered pedestrian

walk ways
Banishing the motor vehicle except the localities from the selected
streets and retrofit them as green-covered area. This has been
successfully demonstrated during the Second World War in Rotterdam’s
Lijnbaan and in 1958 at the American city of Kalamazoo of Michigan
(Garvin and Berens 1997)

b. Reclaiming waterfronts as green spaces

It is most appealing way to recapture the public open space is to
restore the ecological processes at water fronts. This can also support the
local recreational needs such as jogging, casual strolling, etc.

c. Revive underused, misused and unused spaces for green-cover

development
Misused or unused spaces such as areas demarcated as public parks,
play ground, open spaces, flood plains, pedestrian ways, street margins,
and graveyard; underused spaces such as building setbacks, road
medians, and traffic islands, etc. can be recovered and instigate the
greeneries.
Table 8.6 Implementation mechanism

Implementation type Description areas

mechanisms
Possession of Complete Any public or private land in the Chennai city ground water recharging areas ,
sensitive areas possession that support the ecological processes should areas having higher
be acquired and maintained as green-cover biodiversity and habitat value,
patch. potential enough to mitigate the
natural calamity such as
flooding / land slide, etc.
leasing out Leasing the acquired land only for greenery Flood plains, aquifer
activities, like, growing commercial woodland recharging area, etc.
such as groves, orchard, etc
Development Zoning Through regulation, all lands are targeted for Private properties, mainly
control the green-cover development within the residential areas.
techniques context of networking the green-cover.
Legislation Protect the Chennai city’s green-space parks, play fields and open
through appropriate act. Chennai’s green- space in the state
cover can protect the natural process such as
air quality amelioration, ground water
recharging and urban heat island mitigation
Prominent Possession the private properties by means of coastal fronts, water fronts,
ownership legislation, which is very sensitive. flood plains, wet lands and

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habitat of endanger species
Public Legal legal agreement with the land owner, part of
participation agreement his property will be maintained as woodlands
by means of to get tax benefits
incentives Incentives high-density residential or commercial area
developers can be permitted additional floor
area in exchange maintaining green space or
wooded area on the ground
Easement It is similar to the development restriction,
portion of the property will be brought under
easement to support the natural process. That
will be maintained as green-covered area.
Plot size exceeding more than
one acre
High density residential areas
in the northeast part of the
Chennai city
Areas that support natural
drain, aquifer recharging areas,
and wild life corridor etc

Figure 8.13 Planting around the Figure 8.14 Trees around the building
building improve energy efficiency of in the plot improve onsite natural
Chennai city’s buildings. process with in the Chennai city

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8.8 CONCLUSION
In today’s context bureaucratically developing the greeneries in the
urban area is a difficult task due to various factors. Encouraging the
people’s active participation in planning, funding and maintaining the
urban greeneries are the most appropriate method. Most of the
successful park developments in the developed countries have explicitly
demonstrated this. For instance, cedar Lake Park – the much used green-
space of Minneapolis is built with the help of its citizens. In the other
case at Philadelphia, Norris Square Park and the surrounding
neighborhoods are reclaimed from the brazen drug dealers with the help
of perseverance and commitment of the community for community
greening program (Garvin and Berens 1997).
However, the green-cover planning is more than just establishing the
wood-land. That is, woodlands are by it’s very nature serves so many
diverse end, i.e. multipurpose, protect soil condition, climatic condition
and support wild life etc. Therefore, while planning for the woodlands,
the prime objectives should be identified for each case and then
combined as effectively as possible with other benefits. It is often
possible to achieve the collateral benefits in the urban areas without
compromising prime objectives. For instance, the woodland that protects
the aquifer area could serve as recreational area for the local peoples.
Therefore, the plan must identify the particular use or range of uses
appropriate at each site’s green-cover development. While doing so, the
plan must also specify the type of woodland to be developed, species to
be planted and method of managements. Last of all, the plan should look
ahead and establish the appropriate woodlands, which can concord with
future development rather than conflict.