The price of haphazard development is paid by residents of BHEL Nagar and Amman Nagar, who have endured a persistent water stagnation problem for over 10 years now. Well into the summer, buffaloes find a cool haven in the water and sewage stagnant inside the colony. "The water dries for a few months from June or July. Since the layout of over three acres area was occupied from 1992, residents have had to deal with stagnant water two or three feet deep for six to eight months a year,' said Adhi Narayanan, Secretary, BHEL Nagar and Amman Nagar Association. The surplus water of the Porur Lake that lies next door is not the primary culprit, though it is the lake's overflow that stagnates in the colony. The previously-existing canals, which ensured that the water was carried out, are now being encroached on with impunity, complain residents. The park for the colonies is completely underwater. Temporary measures have been taken occasionally to pump out water but little effort has been taken towards a permanent solution, Mr. Narayanan said. The panchayat does not supply water and residents in the area are dependent on wells for water supply. These are now being contaminated with sewage from nearby septic tanks, according to residents. This has contributed to the foul smell hanging heavy over the area and mosquito breeding. The area falls under the Moulivakkam panchayat and is not likely to benefit from the underground sewage projects that have been proposed for some urban local bodies in the vicinity such as Valasarawakkam.