CHENNAI: As residents of Shastri Nagar in Adambakkam grapple with sewage pollution at the Velachery lake inlet, officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Metro Water Board (CMWSSB) have been engaged in a blame game, accusing each other of responsibility for failing to plug illegal sewage connections to a storm water drain (SWD) that contaminates the lake.
The neighbourhood, located opposite the lake inlet near the Kakkan Bridge on the western side of Velachery Lake, has for years faced contaminated groundwater, dense growth of water hyacinth and a persistent mosquito menace.
Residents allege that repeated representations to civic agencies have yielded little action, allowing sewage to continue flowing into the SWD and into the lake.
"In 2022, the water opposite our houses was relatively clean. We saw ducks, herons and storks. Some people even went fishing. Now, the stench of sewage is unbearable," residents said, adding that mosquito infestations and polluted groundwater have led to frequent illnesses and increased medical expenses.
D Selvan, a resident, said the City Link Road, which divides the Alandur and Adyar zones, often faced waterlogging during the monsoon. "The GCC built the SWD to address inundation and completed it in two months. Since then, sewage from Ward 161 has been entering the drain and reaching the lake without any corrective action," he said.
Another resident said nearly 13 localities and thousands of people were affected by the mosquito menace. "About 10 feet of sludge has accumulated a few hundred metres from the inlet. The thick cover of water hyacinth clearly shows the extent of contamination," the resident said.
The Water Resources Department maintains the Velachery. The WRD said they had spent Rs 25 lakh on removing water hyacinth during the 2025 monsoon season. "We have repeatedly asked the GCC to disconnect illegal sewage lines from the SWD. They have taken no steps, despite assurances," a WRD official said.
A GCC official said that inspections were carried out in Wards 172 and 175 and attributed the problem to inadequate storage capacity at the Depot 161 pumping station, which led to frequent overflows or diversions into SWDs. The official also alleged that sewage water was diverted into SWDs during morning hours.
However, a Depot 161 official with the Metro Water Board denied these claims, stating that no sewage overflow or diversion was occurring from the pumping station, as residents continue to suffer from the consequences of unchecked sewage discharge into the lake.