Residents of Kundrathur and Ayyapanthangal had complained about dumping of garbage in Porur lake
Funds are awaited for the proposal to build a boundary wall around the Porur lake. The Water Resources Department (WRD) has prepared the project to protect the reservoirs from garbage dumping and encroachment.
Earlier, residents of Kundrathur and Ayyapanthangal had complained about dumping of garbage in the lake. WRD officials said the boundary wall would be built for a length of 6-7 km, which would be built along the river Koom, with gaps to allow the flow of flood water into the lake. Around 100 encroachments have been identified around the lake, and the process of resettling and rehabilitating them is underway. “We are following up with the local authorities at Kundrathur to set up a treatment facility and stop the sewage flowing into the lake through the Thanthical channel,” said an official.
The residents demanded that the encroachments in the inlet channels be removed before the northeast monsoon.
Former MLA from Madurvoyal and chairman of Porur Lake Conservation Committee G. Beam Rao recalled his demand in the state assembly to develop the lake as an eco-tourism destination with boating. The income generated can be used to maintain the lake and keep it pollution free.
In addition, dedicated personnel should be deployed to monitor the lake and its channels. Shri Beam Rao said that the local revenue authorities should take responsibility of the new encroachments and plantation of native tree species should be done to strengthen the dam.
He said that the lake is a source of drinking water and will play an important role in Metrowater’s ambitious project on indirect use of reclaimed water.
.