PWD set to infuse life into lakes
Survey in progress to demarcate boundaries of waterbodies; encroachments to be removed SPRUCING UP: An earth-mover on the job around the Perungudi Lake recently as part of the lake rehabilitation project of the Public Works Department. CHENNAI: The Public Works Department (PWD) has geared up its efforts to remove encroachments from, and rehabilitate lakes in the fringes of the city as per the Tank Protection Act, 2007. Of the 19 lakes, demarcation of the boundaries and serving of eviction notices to encroachers have been completed for five lakes, including Ayapakkam and Korattur in Tiruvallur district. A PWD official said measures were under way to complete the work by May as per a Madras High Court directive. Survey is in progress to demarcate boundaries of waterbodies in places such as Ambattur, Tambaram, Nemilicheri, Peerkankaranai and Kadapperi in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. Notices issued Eviction notices have been served so far on about owners of 1,000 households who have allegedly encroached on the lake. The work with regard to eight waterbodies, including those at Zamin Pallavaram and Kovilambakkam, however, has been put on hold because cases are pending in the court pertaining to removal of encroached structures, the official said. On completion of the area demarcation and removal of encroachments, measures to rehabilitate the waterbodies would begin. The districts' administration has to decide on issues pertaining to provision of alternative sites, the official added. Another senior PWD official said that around Rs.3.6 crore had been allocated to execute rehabilitation work, including construction of retaining wall, at lakes in Velachery, Pallavaram and Perungudi. One of the lakes on which the PWD recently started rehabilitation work at the cost of Rs.97 lakh is the Perungudi eri, which has a 35-acre spread. It is being used by residents of nearby Kallukuttai for various purposes, including bathing, washing clothes, animals and vehicles. Rehabilitation work The rehabilitation work includes clearing of the bushes around the lake, levelling and strengthening of the 816 meter bund and fencing the lake. A compound wall is to be constructed to a height of three feet over which there would be chain link fencing. Desilting work has already been completed in the lake. Perungudi panchayat president K.P. Kandan said toilets would be constructed nearby to prevent people from dirtying the place. The water from the wells that line the lake was being used to supply drinking water by the panchayat. Efforts hailed B.Maximus of the Kurinji Nagar Residents Association, who welcomed the efforts of the PWD, said they planned to plant trees and make a walkway around the lake with benches. "As it is being fenced and the area around getting cleaned, we are now planning to approach IT companies for funds to beautify the lake,' he added.