The Water Resources Department (WRD) on Friday launched a drive to remove encroachments from the Chitlapakkam lake amid protests.
The exercise to demarcate the boundary of Chitlapakkam lake near Periyar Street was started. However, residents resisted the demolition for a few hours.
Officials said parts of houses built near the reservoir have been identified as encroachments on the lake area at Periyar Street. Steps were taken to remove 14 encroachments and demarcate the boundary of the water body.
About 403 encroachments have been identified in the lake. The department has completed about 70% of the ₹25 crore project to rejuvenate the reservoir, which includes deepening and provisioning of flood regulators. It has a storage capacity of 7.02 million cubic feet spread over 219 acres.
Other works like footpath, fencing, greenery and children’s park will be done under the eco-restoration project. “We were able to store fresh water in the lake post monsoon as most of the work, including the construction of cut and cover channels, has been completed,” an official said.
Meanwhile, the Chitlapakkam Residents Association Coordination Committee wants the Selaiyur lake to be restored and a new channel built to carry the excess water to the Tiruvancheri lake.
Committee convener P. Viswanathan said drains should be operated to divert the excess water to the Thiruvancheri lake. He said as all the excess water went into Chitlapakkam, it caused flooding in the area.
Apart from a detailed project for rejuvenation of the lake, the concerned authorities should also take steps to stop the discharge of raw sewage into the cut and covered drain connected to the Sembakkam lake. The underground sewerage scheme at Chitlapakkam, which was shelved a decade ago, should be restarted, Mr. Viswanathan said.