Located in Avadi Municipality, the lake spreading over 87 acre is owned by Public Works Department. With a circumferential length of 2.78 km, water spread of the lake is 53.28 acre and is surrounded by TNHB Site & Service scheme, residential colonies such as Kamarajar Nagar, Periyar Nagar and slums.

Talks with the local residents revealed that the authorities initially earmarked about 100 houses for eviction but currently only six houses have been asked to vacate to make way for the bund. A casual inquiry with those who have built houses in the encroached land revealed that they have paid upto Rs 50,000 to authorities to spare their houses. “Two siblings with political influences have been indomitable in the locality and made officials mend their ways. The family had encroached the lake for farming. They also discharged the drainage from the locality into the lake. However, after authorities managed to retrieve 50 per cent of encroachment, discharging of drainage into the lake was prevented. However, the remaining encroached land is under their control. Even Avadi MLA and minister Pandiarajan could not do anything about it,” said a resident, requesting anonymity.

Residents of housing board on the eastern side of the lake bears the brunt of the encroachment the most. “During monsoon, our area is inundated as lake overflows into the low-lying areas,” said a resident.

The lake restoration project is being carried out at a cost of Rs 47crore and it envisions a bird nesting island, entrance plaza, boating deck, view decks at bund, view points, refreshment block, children play area and parks. Though a sewage treatment plant has been constructed adjacent to the lake, currently the untreated sewage is being let into the lake.