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Ramapuram lake to be de silted after RTI petitions
Posted on: 12/Jun/2016 10:58:01 AM
Chennai Corporation officials have initiated a survey of the Ramapuram lake before its plans to start de silting. The lake has shrunk to a seventh of its original size over the past two decades. The initiative was spurred by Right to Information or RTI petitions from local residents. The replies to the petitions show that the lake was spread across 27 acres in the mid 1990s in the suburbs, not far from the airport. Now all that remains of the waterbody is four acres. On what used to be the lake bed, houses, educational institutions and tenements by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board or the TNSCB now stand.
The Ramapuram lake falls under the jurisdiction of Zone 11 of the Greater Chennai Corporation. Earlier this month, the assistant commissioner and assistant engineer (AE) of the zone visited the spot to survey the area as well as plan the course of action to de silt the lake.
A representative of the Thiruvalluvar Welfare Association, which is a local residents’ association of youngsters, says, The lake used to provide water for agriculture. Residents never faced water shortage as it also helped recharge ground water in the area. Moreover, during floods, there was a natural drain so our houses were saved from water logging. The encroachments started when houses began to be built in the area without obtaining patta and revenue officials looked the other way. A number of petitions were sent to Chennai Corporation as well as the public works department over the years. RTI replies by these departments displayed the confusion as to who had the ownership of the water body.
The floods in December opened residents’ eyes to the impact of encroachment as the lack of natural drain led to heavy water logging. Says the association, Since then there has been a positive movement with regard to de silting whatever is left of the lake. We just want to ensure that the lake is not further encroached upon.
Local corporation officials say, The first job would be to strengthen the bind around the remaining portion of the water body. After that we will create a fence so that the lake is not encroached upon further. The mayor is likely to meet the residents to chart out the future course of action.
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