Fantastic news!! Saving the Porur Lake in Chennai from recurring floods and degradation
Posted on: 18/May/2022 9:48:43 AM
In a couple of weeks, WRD or Water Resources Department would be taking remedial steps to save Porur Lake from getting degraded. The much needed attention would be provided to this lake in Chennai. It has been brought to light that WRD would be implementing projects to improve the network of water channels around the lake. By this, areas upstream of this lake would get respite from the recurring floods.
The lake is full of weeds and these weeds would be removed from this lake soon. This was mentioned by an officer belonging to WRD. This would improve the aesthetic appearance of Porur Lake. There would also be removal of around 25 encroachments near this lake`s surplus weir at Moulivakkam. Point is that foreshore bund and a compound wall would be created eher.
The water spread area in Porur Lake would be improved by WRD. This lake has got a storage capacity of about 70 mcft is known. Enumeration of various other encroachments around this lake is also being carried out by WRD now. To control water flow into surplus courses and to reduce flooding in the surrounding places, 2 regulators would be provided near the weir.
From Thanthikal channel to the surplus course of Porur Lake, a channel of 700m would be built by WRD. It is known that Thanthika channel links floodwater to this lake. In the rainy season, areas like Iyyappanthangal and Koluthuvancheri would get flooded. It is now mentioned that the new channel would drain the floodwater out quickly. In addition, sewage pollution into the lake would be avoided in the non rainy season.
The officer of WRD explained that the water flow would be diverted to the surplus course near Kolathuvancheri road by new channel. The superb piece of news is that Porur lake 1100 metre long surplus course would be improved. To allow the smooth flow of flood water into the Manapakkam drain and then into Adyar river, a channel would be built for a distance of 800m.
To prevent detouring of surplus of course to join the drain, 2 box culverts would be built cutting across the NHAI. To avoid any traffic disruptions, a push through technology would be used for construction. Before the onset of NE monsoon season, the works worth Rs 60.4 crores would be completed by WRD. On the indirect use of reclaimed water, Porur Lake has also been selected as a site for Chennai Metrowater pilot project.
