1. Conduct road audits An immediate priority is to conduct a drainage audit for all roads. The city needs to check if stormwater drains are located on both sides and properly networked. Drains must connect to flow into a lake or river and cross drainage structures should be assessed.

2. Protect stormwater channels Stormwater channels should be lined with concrete to prevent encroachment and ensure proper drainage into rivers. Land must be secured for stormwater drains. This process needs to be systematic and based on hydrological design (planning water flow and drainage systems based on rainfall patterns) to manage rainfall.

3. Invest in sewage networks Chennai needs to expand the sewage network throughout the city to ensure that all wastewater is effectively collected and directed to sewage treatment plants (STPs).

4. Enhance flood prediction skills To improve flood prediction, Chennai should upgrade the automatic weather stations to provide alerts at least three days in advance. This requires increased investment in modelling and upgrading the weather stations.

5. Engage citizens and communities Citizens and communities must consider investing in rainwater harvesting to recharge aquifers and design properties as zero rainfall discharge areas. Chennai’s regulations require adequate storage for collected rainwater, which can efficiently manage heavy rainfall events.

6. Design on a watershed basis This is essential as every lake acts as a mini watershed. Authorities must understand water flow to direct drainage into lakes and use sluice gates to manage overflow. Opening these gates before a storm can help channel excess water to connected lakes.