Chitlapakkam Lake in Chennai is grabbing many eyeballs!!
Posted on: 29/Jan/2022 9:32:03 AM
On Friday, 28th January 2022, WRD or Water Resources Department began the drive to clear encroachments from the Chitlapakkam Lake in Chennai. It was near Periyar Street, the work to demarcate Chitlapakkam Lake boundary was started. There were some protests from the residents here.
It was later mentioned by some WRD officials that the portions of houses constructed near the water body were identified as encroaching into the lake area in Periyar Street. To clear the 14 encroachments and demarcate the water body’s boundary, steps were taken. Information is that nearly 403 encroachments have been identified in the lake. An amount of Rs 25 crores would be spent to rejuvenate the water body and WRD has completed 70% of the work. Chitlapakkam Lake is spread over 219 acres and it has got a storage capacity of 7.02 million cubic feet.
It is worth mentioning that various other works like footpath provision, fencing, greenery, children’s park etc would be taken up as a part of the eco-restoration project. As per an officer belonging to WRD, the department has been able to store freshwater in the Chitlapakkam Lake after the monsoons and construction of cut and cover channels have been completed.
The Selaiyur Lake needs to be restored and this was pointed out by the Chitlapakkam Residents Association Coordination Committee. New channel must be built to carry surplus water to Thiruvanchery Lake. To divert excess water to Thiruvanchery Lake, sluices gates must be operated. This was according to Mr. P. Viswanathan, committee convenor. He concluded that the underground sewage system must be resumed once again.
