The Hindu 31.07.2009
Drive soon to remove encroachments from lakes
K. Lakshmi
| Plan to complete the work early to prevent flooding |
— Photo: S. R. Raghunathan 
SHRINKING SPACE: Unauthorised structures on several waterbodies in and around Chennai will shortly be removed by the WRD. Picture shows a part of the Velachery Lake.
CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department (WRD), a wing of the Public Works Department, proposes to launch a drive by August-end to remove encroachments from eight lakes around the city.
Officials of the WRD said that two years ago, a drive was launched to rejuvenate 19 major waterbodies in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts under the Tank Protection and Encroachment Removal Act, 2007.
As part of the proposed initiative, enumeration of encroachments in the waterbodies was under way in association with the Revenue Department officials. Identification of lands to provide alternative sites to those evicted during the drive was also in progress.
Once these works were completed, the drive to clear encroachments would commence by next month-end or early September. The waterbodies to be restored include those in Kadaperi, Kolathur, Nemilichery, Velachery and Thiruninravur, an official said.
“We plan to complete as much work as possible before the onset of the monsoon to prevent flooding in the areas around the lakes,” the official added.
So far, encroachments have been cleared from nearly 10 waterbodies, including Ambattur, Korattur, Arapatheri, Kovilambakkam, Tambaram Puduthangal and Pallikaranai. Nearly 3,300 people in Tiruvallur district and 700 in Kancheepuram district, who were evicted from areas along the lakes, have been rehabilitated in various localities such as Morai, Perungulathur, Semmencheri and Sholinganallur, with the help of the Revenue Department, the official said.
On the delay in executing the work, the officials said it had to be suspended in many areas owing to residents’ protests and court proceedings.
Demarcation of the boundary of the waterbodies is being carried out now. The lakes are also being monitored to prevent new encroachments. Estimate has been sent to the State government to fence the vulnerable points in the foreshore area of the waterbodies.
There is also a proposal to plant palm trees along the boundary of the lakes as part of the beautification drive, the officials added.
