PWD to start Chitlapakkam lake restoration

“The work was to begin by December. But as there was a delay in finalising the tender, the work got postponed. As part of the restoration work, the lake bund would be strengthened and a new foreshore bund for 960 metres would be constructed as part of the project. Also, a pathway would be laid on the lake bund,” said Radhakrishnan, Executive Engineer, PWD.

The officials also added that a drain would be constructed on the foreshore of the lake to collect sewage that otherwise flows into the waterbody. It would be connected to the proposed sewage treatment plant and the treated sewage alone would be let into the lake, he added.

The 25-crore lake restoration project was announced by the government in July last year. “The amount would be used to strengthen the bund, remove encroachments, prevent sewage from entering the lake, and save excess water flow,” said the official.

It is to be noted that following the inaction of the government despite repeated representations for the past two years, the residents took the initiative to clean and desilt the lake in June after obtaining due permission from PWD.

“The desilting work was completed in September. The officials promised to restore the lake once the desilting work is completed, but it was postponed. Every weekend after the work we update the PWD officials. As there is a delay in the restoration work by the officials, the people started to throw garbage again and the sewage is let into the lake. We want officials to start the work soon,” said Vishwanathan P, resident of Muthuswamy Nagar in Chitlapakkam.