Following repeated complaints by the public and visits by the local
MLA andMayor, the Vellore Corporation has taken temporary measures to
divert the sewage let into the Palavansathu lake.

Residents of
Ezhil Nagar and Avvai Nagar had stopped using the water of Palavansathu
lake 15 years ago, as it was found contaminated. Many of the residents
who used the lake for washing purposes complained of skin problems.

The lake was originally receiving the rainwater from Otteri and Gundusoor Hills.

Due
to settlements along its banks, the drainage lines of the houses were
connected to the rainwater channel causing sewage and rainwater to
discharge into the lake.

The lake also became a dumping yard and a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Councillor
of ward 42, G Anbu said,“ There are  chances of the problem getting
worse in the days to come if not addressed now. The lake water
contamination has already affected  groundwater in the nearby areas.”

The
Corporation has now dug a temporary line to divert the sewage water
flow into a separate line, without letting it into the lake. The new
line is about 800-feet long and starts from Paraimedu area where sewage
from houses mix in the rainwater channel.

Steps have been taken to construct another line to the lake, to discharge the rainwater.

“The ground was dug last week and the new line was connected to the drainage line in the adjacent Allapuram area,” Anbu said.

However,
the encroachments along the new drainage line had to be cleared and
proper a cement structure needed to be constructed, he added. This would
take about four months to complete, he noted and added that the project
also included  desilting of the lake.