Superb news about the restoration of water bodies in Chennai!!
Posted on: 14/Aug/2023 9:50:59 AM
To improve their catchment and for flood mitigation, eight water bodies across Chennai would be restored. Various water bodies that would be restored would be Manali Eri, Sathangadu Eri, Madhavaram Eri, Sadatan Kuppam Eri in north chennai and smaller water bodies in south Chennai etc. Information gathered is that in all these water bodies there are encroachments plus sewage menace and washing activities etc.
An amount of Rs 73 cr would be spent to renovate these water bodies under the national Disaster Mitigation Fund of the Union govt. It is noteworthy that the project coversa around 484 acres. There would be marking of bunds plus setting up of walking tracks and boating etc in these water bodies and these would be done by the GCC or Greater Chennai Corporation.
It was revealed by councillor Mr. Arumugam of ward 20 that 139 acfe Madhavaram Eri would be deepened and bund would be laid. By this, the ground water recharge as well as the storage capacity would also be improved. Throughout the year, water would be saved.
Eco-park in Sathangadu lake:
An eco-park would be set up in the Sathangadu Lake and this was as per the GCC. The water holding capacity here would be increased by one million cubic metres and the lake would be deepened for 2m.
Objections have been raised by the local residents against setting up an eco-park here as there might be low footfalls here due to pollution. Secondly, the locals want water to be used for farming and are against the eco-park. This was brought out by a local activist Mr. D. Babu.
According to Mr. Darwin Annadurai, an environmental scientist it was clear that the water bodies must be restored scientifically but not for aesthetic sake.
The GCC has proposed the restoration of water bodies as a part of flood mitigation works and this was mentioned by GCCchief engineer Mr. S. Rajendiran. He added that after restoration these lakes would act as flood barriers. As per Mr. Kamala Kannan of Manali, encroachments must be removed by GCC at the 140 acre Sadayan Kuppam lake and they must not just restore the available parts of it.
