Major restoration project drawn up for waterbodies in Tiruvallur district Nearly 200 lakes falling under Kosasthalaiyar river sub-basin in Tiruvallur district near Chennai will soon be rejuvenated. The Water Resources Department has initiated the tendering process under the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Waterbodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project. Officials of the WRD said though minor repair works have been taken up in the past, it is the first time that the department has devised a major project to restore all lakes in the district after a gap of nearly three decades. Of the total 18 packages in the IAMWARM project worth Rs.81.97 crore, nearly 11 are to rejuvenate lakes in Tiruvallur district and remaining for those in Vellore district. Some of the lakes to be restored include those at Kovilpadagai, Thandurai, Mittnamalli and Villianjiampakkam near Avadi and those at Padianallur and Pammadhukulam near Red Hills and Nerkundram. Though many of these lakes in the suburbs of Chennai are marginally used for irrigation, the restoration work would help in recharging groundwater and reduce inundation in the neighbouring areas. A majority of the lakes that are still used for irrigation purposes in Tiruvallur district such as those in Pandeswaram, Vitchur, Pullarambakkam and Ramathandalam would also be covered in the project. An official said that besides strengthening the lake bund, repairing sluices and demarcating boundaries, the project also aims at widening and desilting supply channels and irrigation channels. The project would improve irrigation activities near the water bodies and provide more livelihood opportunities to residents, the official said. Residents of Avadi expect the restoration work of WRD to provide a new lease of life to the water bodies that are in dire need of maintenance. Several of them have been encroached upon along the bunds. S.M.Nasar, Avadi Municipality Chairman said though irrigation and inland fishing are being carried out in a small way near the lakes, including Mittnamalli and Kovilpadagai, rapid urbanisation has brought down the extent of cultivation. “We have not been able to use groundwater as it has turned salty. The work would help in improving the quality of water,” he said. Farmers in Tiruvallur district also welcomed the move to rejuvenate the waterbodies. G.Sripathy, president of Magaral Village Water Users Association said many farmers extracted groundwater for cultivation as they did not receive enough water from the lakes. Encroachments along the bund of lakes such as Alamathi near Red Hills and Pakkam near Thiruninravur are another problem that has to be addressed. The Association had earlier submitted a proposal to the State government to use water from lakes such as Magaral, Pandeswaram and Alamathi, which are located upstream of Red Hills reservoir, for city's drinking water needs apart from irrigation purposes, he said. Officials of the WRD said work order for the project would be issued in two months. The project is expected to be completed in two years.