Chennai’s Tambaram Initiates Lake Restoration Drive, Seeks Government Support

Chennai: The Tambaram Corporation has reached out to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Water Resources Department (WRD) for financial support to rejuvenate its deteriorating lakes. Despite having detailed project reports in place, the civic body cites inadequate government funding and limited resources as major impediments to completing crucial sewage infrastructure and lake restoration activities.

Recent visits by CMDA officials and Kakarla Usha, Principal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to Sembakkam and Chitlapakkam lakes underscored pressing issues such as sewage inflow and encroachments. “We urgently require the collaborative efforts of WRD and CMDA to expedite the restoration of Sembakkam and Chitlapakkam lakes, pivotal water bodies in the southern suburbs,” remarked a Tambaram Corporation official.

The interconnectedness of water bodies within Tambaram’s jurisdiction highlights the urgency of the situation. Water from Kadaperi, Rajakilpakkam, and Selaiyur lakes flows through Sembakkam Lake towards Keelkatalai Lake and eventually into the Buckingham Canal. Mitigating sewage inflow, addressing encroachments, and developing recreational spaces are among the corporation’s top priorities. Proposals for sewage treatment plants near Veeraraghavan and Madambakkam lakes have also been submitted to aid in this endeavour.

Despite efforts over several years, challenges persist. Encroachments continue to plague efforts to reclaim lost lake areas, with removed encroachments often reappearing, according to a senior WRD engineer. Local residents and activists have actively engaged in cleaning initiatives and proposing sustainable solutions, emphasizing the need for completed underground drainage connections and sustained collaboration between officials and residents.

As Tambaram Corporation intensifies its efforts to restore ecological balance to its water bodies, the appeal for governmental support remains critical. The CMDA’s ongoing initiatives could potentially expand to encompass a phased approach to restore more lakes, addressing broader environmental concerns and enhancing urban resilience in Chennai’s suburban landscape.