Sembakkam lake to get regulator at Rs 18 lakh

“Under the restoration project, the NGO has so far removed hyacinth from the waterbody. Further, the sewage flowing into the lake needs to be arrested immediately. Otherwise, the project cannot make any headway in the matter. Hence, they sought our help to construct a regulator as the existing one is in bad shape,” said an official attached to the PWD.

For this purpose, the NGO has also demolished rocks off a portion of the waterbody, paving way for the installation of the regulator.

“The PWD is planning to construct the regulator at this place. After its installation, the sewage will be drained out via surplus channel that is connected to the nearby Nanmangalam lake,” said a member of The Nature Conservancy.

PWD is planning to complete the work within four months, following which deepening works of up to 4 cm depth will be carried out on the lake.

“The existing regulator was installed to facilitate irrigation in this area. Over time, the regulator fell to a derelict state. The lake is completely polluted, rendering unfit to meet drinking water needs or for the recharge of groundwater,” said M Ravi of the Chitlapakkam Sarvamangalam Residents Welfare Association.

The restoration project is being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 90 lakh. With technical inputs from IIT-Bombay, The Nature Conservancy, along with Care Earth Trust, commenced the project last October.

Around 12 tests, including hydrology and soil examination, were carried out before undertaking the civic work.