Derelict city water bodies to get new lease of life before monsoon

When the next monsoon season arrives, we can hope that the lakes under the city Corporation, which are in shambles now, would help in recharging the groundwater level as the local body eyes to complete restoration and rejuvenation of water bodies under Smart City Mission before the onset of Northeast monsoon 2019.

Of total 3,000 water bodies in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, restoration and rejuvenation of 210 water bodies have been entrusted upon the Chennai Corporation. Other water bodies are being maintained by Revenue Department, Water Resource Department, Public Works Department and Chennai Metrowater.

“We are implementing the project with private participation under Corporate Social Responsibility. Of the 210 water bodies, 43 will be restored with the help of corporate companies and NGOs,” a Corporation official said.

Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner M Govinda Rao (Works) said that 60 water bodies would be restored using the Smart City funds and 20 water bodies through public-private partnership in phase 1. The civic body has allotted Rs 25 crore for the restoration works. “We are trying to complete the works before monsoon season.”

Till now, the Chennai Corporation has completed restoring 30 of the 60 water bodies and 13 water bodies have been restored by private organisations. Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company (TWIC) has been roped in to prepare detailed project reports for remaining water bodies.

A total of 55 water bodies in the Kosasthalaiyar basin would be restored under integrated stormwater drain (ISWD) project with the funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Removing the encroachments, that have been built on the water bodies over the years, pose a big challenge in completing the restoration works.

“In some places, we are also facing legal cases filed by the squatters. Restoration of water bodies tangled in legal cases may take more time. When the water bodies are restored, it would double the storage capacity of the city,” said N Balamurugan of Chennai City Connect, who is coordinating the restoration of 43 water bodies with private participation. He added that the civic body is also constructing rainwater harvesting structures in temple ponds.

“As reclamation is the only intent, we are concentrating on desilting, bund strengthening and planting native trees on the bunds,” another official said. Expect for the Villivakkam lake, we are not beautifying any other water body as the funds are limited, he added. 

Though the works to restore the Villivakkam lake and turn it into a recreational spot begun in May 2018, it is yet to be completed. “It will approximately take another six months to complete the works. Once the works are completed, the lake will be used as a recreational spot like Chetpet lake,” Govinda Rao said.

The Corporation has taken up the project at a cost of Rs 16 crore to restore the sprawling lake extending up to 36.50 acres. Of the total lake area, 24.64 acres would be restored to store water and 11.50 acre would house a pumping station of  Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).

210 Water bodies to be restored in city

167 Water bodies to be restored with Corporation funds

43 Water bodies handed over to organisations

CREDAI and CII, among other organisations given opportunity to restore water bodies

TWIC prepares detailed project reports for remaining water bodies

Works completed in 43 water bodies

DPR prepared for another 57 water bodies

Tender floated for 11 water bodies

Arappor Iyakkam, a non-profit organisation, has alleged that the civic body is delaying the restoration works and floated tenders to restore pond that is in good condition. “Arappor Iyakkam carried out an audit of 14 ponds for which Corporation had floated tenders for more than 7 crores in August 2018. These 14 tenders were floated for 15 ponds as urgent tenders and were not given the mandatory 15 day periods as ponds were to be desilted before the monsoon,” Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, said. He added that the audit team managed to find work happening only in Ramapuram lake. “Works are yet to commence in other lakes. No works has been carried out in these ponds in the last 6 to 7 months. Tender was floated for Kumaran Nagar pond, which is already in good condition,” he said.

Despite spending several lakhs of rupees and claims of involving local community to maintain lakes, some of the restored water bodies are already gone back to their former state. In one such example, weeds started to grow in the pond at Gangadeeswarar Temple in Purasaiwalkam. “The Corporation removed weeds from the pond and restored it. After the restoration work, there was no clarity about who should maintain the pond,” a resident said. Meanwhile, an official said that the civic body is yet to decide on allowing the local community to maintain the restored ponds. Apart from Gangadeeswarar Temple pond, other lakes that were restored by the civic body are found dry with weeds starting to sprout. Weeds are visible in Ayyankulam pond also.