Private tankers extracting contaminated water in Sembakkam, allege residents

Officials from the PWD, the custodian of the lake which is now involved in cleaning the sewage from the lake, said theywould take steps to stopthis immediately.

The private tanker lorries usually fetch water from the agriculture wells surrounding the lake. However, now they are fetching water from the well, alleged local residents, adding that it contained contaminated water from the under-restoration waterbody.

Speaking to DT Next, M Ravi, president of Sarvamangalm Residents Welfare Association, said, “In the recent says, we noticed that tanker lorries are transporting water from this well. It is polluted with sewage and unfit for any domestic purposes. We fear that the private tanker lorries are working in connivance with the local civic body. It is unpotable water, which is not fit for anything.”

“The water from the lake cannot be used in any form. It is certain that the private tanker lorries that are making a beeline in front of the wells are extract water from this source. But it is not known where it is being supplied,” said another resident.

The condition of the waterbody, managed by the PWD, had deteriorated in the recent years after sewage was let out into it continuously. It has also been facing rampant encroachment, residents charged.

When asked, a PWD official said, “We have not given license to any private agents to extract water from the lake. At present, we are in the process of constructing a regulator to remove the contaminated water from it. The work has been briefly halted, but will be resumed soon. The issue will be lookedat immediately.”

The Sembakkam lake is currently being rejuvenated with the help of an NGO, Nature Conservancy. The work will be completed before the end of the year. The eco-restoration of the lake includes de-weeding, dredging, lake deepening, strengthening of embankment andplanting saplings.

Before the work was taken up, about 70 per cent of the waterbody was coveredby hyacinth.