Fest highlights pollution in waterbodies

This is being done to highlight the apparent poor state of the city’s waterbodies and demand action from concerned authorities. Subathra Devi, a volunteer with NGO Arappor Iyakkam — which is conducting the Sakkadi Thiruvizha (sewage festival) — said that eight samples from around the city were tested in a week. 

“The samples were tested for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate, in addition to parameters like colour, turbidity and appearance. According to the results, almost all the samples had sewage in it,” said Devi. 

“This shows that in a city with 417 waterbodies, none of these sources is potable due to sewage inflow. What we want to ask the authorities is why they are letting sewage into a potential water source?” she said. The 50-day awareness campaign will be followed up by a public hearing, where the residents can voice their issues and hold the officials accountable. 

“The problems threatening our waterbodies are not only sewage but also encroachments and dumping of municipal solid waste. We have audited most of the waterbodies around the city, which are all facing similar issues,” said Devi. 

“Without solving these key issues, we cannot revive our waterbodies. The public hearing is a space for the public to demand the action taken by the government authorities to restore waterbodies,” she added. 

Among the waterbodies audited, samples from Chitlapakkam and Velachery lakes and Adyar river were the most polluted. Meanwhile, residents of Chiltapakkam have been fighting to restore the lake. 

Sunil Jayaram, a resident, said, “The quality of water in Chitlapakkam lake has deteriorated rapidly due to the dump yard nea rit, which is polluting its waters.” 

He added, “A recent online petition by residents has been filed, requesting Governor Banwarilal Purohit to urgently intervene and fix the issues faced by Chitlapakkam residents, which is being neglected for decades by local body and elected representatives.”