Eviction of houses and shops etc encroaching the water body in southern Chennai!!
Posted on: 08/Mar/2023 9:07:02 AM
Around 750 houses and shops that were built by encroaching the Velachery lake were given show cause notice now. Point is that all the encroachers have ebn given time now to respond and if the TN government is not satisfied with their replies then they would be evicted. This was mentioned by the state water resources dept to the NGT southern zone.
It must be taken into account that the submission was made in connection with a case by the residents from Velachery against government inaction in removing the squatters. The Velachery lake has shrunk in its original size of 265 acres to 55 acres now.
It was revealed by Mr. Kumaradasan of Velachery Eri Pathukappu Iyakkam that the lake was not desilted properly and that the untreated sewage was released into the lake. This lake once catered the drinking water requirements of the locals is known. The water test reports have later brought to light that the lake has got high levels of bacteria, chlorides and TDS or total dissolved solids etc. At some places such as Kakkan bridge in Adambakkam, the pollution levels were high of 2400MPN per 100 mg/litre. At the Maruthupandiyar Road, the other pollutant levels were more.
The CMWSSB has proposed to set up connection wells at 5 locations as the NGT came down heavily on the state agencies for the delays. These 5 locations include Kakkan Nagar Main Road, Bhavani Nagar Main Road, Shastri Nagar, Raj Bhavan Canal and 100 Feet Road. The purpose of the connection wells would be to intercept or divert sullage or grey water into the nearby sewage pumping station.
The estimated cost of the project would be around Rs 4 crores and the project was aimed at stopping the sewage getting released into the storm water drains. The delay in the work was due to GCC road cut ban during the monsoon season from October to december 2022.
According to CMWSSB, the work started once again from the January month in 2023 and till now 45% of the project has been completed. The NGT has adjourned the case to 23rd of March 2023.
