Despite ambitious government initiatives to revive Chennai’s water bodies, encroachments, sewage inflows, and policy failures continue to hinder the efforts
Anusree K C
Chennai: Even though historically known for its vast network of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, Chennai is now facing a curious case of paradoxical crisis. The city faces water scarcity in the summers and flooding when the rain hits the coast during the northeastern monsoons.
The government has undertaken multiple lake rejuvenation projects, to address these issues, all their efforts have been in vain.
The lakes are shrinking, channels are drying and getting interrupted. Many of these initiatives have failed because the government has lost focus from the actual concerns.
Tamil Nadu Government has planned to undertake 22 permanent flood prevention and mitigation works at a cost of Rs.350 and 280 crore. Both in Northern Chennai and surrounding districts and the Southern districts respectively for the year 2024-25. The aim of the initiative is to ensure water security for its residents.
In November last year it was reported that The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has started preparing detailed project reports (DPR). There are 10 lakes that are part of this rejuvenation project which includes those at Perumbakkam, Retteri, Madambakkam, Ayanambakkam, Velachery, and Adambakkam.
The funding for the overall project from the State Government is Rs. 100 crore, and is designed to create walking tracks, gardens, water sport, and bird-watching areas.
“There are three lakes for development in Phase I that fall under the Tambaram Corporation – Veeraraghavan Eri, Peerkankaranai Lake, and Madambakkam Lake. Within the first half of this year, we are hoping to start working on the two of the former,” says Thiru. S. Balachander, Corporation Commissioner, Tambaram.
Elaborating further on the recreation plans for the lakes he said that they are planning to construct a walking path, yoga and meditation space, benches for seating, small cafeteria or lunch area for the public, and parking facilities amongst other things. The project is worth Rs. 28 crores.
But is this really what the people need in the name of lake recreation projects?
“We were told that the CMDA is going to start a developmental project worth around 10 crore on the Sembakkam lake. But we made it clear that we don’t need an amphitheater like that in Chitlapakkam. We submitted a written petition requesting that the focus of the project should be on increasing the water holding capacity of the lake, which would actually benefit the people of the locality. A mud footpath surrounding the lake would suffice for us for recreational value.” says M.Ravi, Secretary of Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Association.
Dirty Channels of Sembakkam: Garbage dumped in the broken channel connecting to Sembakkam lake
Sembakkam lake has shrinked from 150 acres in the 70s to 104 acres. Ravi says the area surrounding the lake was once agricultural land, but over the years it has slowly got converted into residential areas, encroaching the lake. The lack of proper infrastructure, such as the underground drainage system, has led to raw sewage from surrounding buildings to directly flow into the lake and nearby water channels. The release of untreated sewage water into the lake directly has affected the quality of drinking water in the area.
Retteri lake in Kolathur also faces a similar crisis. Even though the Government started a restoration project worth Rs. 48 crores, there has not been much progress with the project.
Restoration works remain incomplete: Retteri lake of Kolathur and Madhavaram was sanctioned a Rs. 48 crore worth project, which was supposed to be completed by March 2025, but apart from building a compound wall, and three small islands, no other work has been done.
“In the name of development they have only made a compound wall and three small islands.The desilting in the lake has affected the capacity of the lake to collect water. No proper work has been done, and they were supposed to complete this project by this summer,” says N. Arumugam, executive president of Madhavaram Resident Welfare Association. He said that the lake has lost more than 200 acres to encroachments.
The real estate business in the town has clawed its teeth into the land. Adding to the woes, is the disposal of sewage water and waste into the lake and its smaller channels by these residential houses, hospitals, and smaller shops in the vicinity.
Wasted Channels : The channel right next to Retteri lake which is supposed to redirect the rainwater is where locals and shop owners dump their waste
In both the cases, lack of proper planning during constructions have led to the disruption of existing channels that merge the rainwater into the lake. This has increased the chances of flooding during the rainy season.
While government projects continue to fall short in execution, local residential associations are constantly raising their voice and striving to achieve the main goal – to purposefully use the available water.
To truly overcome its water crisis, Chennai’s lake restoration efforts need to be comprehensive, with strict enforcement of environmental regulations, community involvement, and transparent governance.
