The Hindu             27.11.2013

Neglected water bodies set to be revived

Several water bodies on the city’s fringes that are in dire need of attention are set to be revived.

The Water Resources Department has come up with a plan to salvage 21 lakes in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, by restoring them, thereby increasing irrigation potential and recharging the groundwater table in their neighbourhoods.

The department is currently awaiting the State government’s approval for the project, which will be carried out as the third phase of the Restoration of Traditional Water Bodies Scheme.

Large water bodies such as those at Manimangalam, Sembakkam, Somangalam, Ottiyambakkam, Thenneri near Walajabad, Mugaiyur near Mamallapuram and Vellancheri near Tiruttani have been identified for rejuvenation in the coming fiscal.

WRD officials said the water body in Thenneri, which is spread over 5.77 sq. km., is the largest among the tanks chosen this time. Most of the lakes chosen have been neglected for several years, an official said. The Manimangalam lake, is one such, spread over 3.42 sq. km. with an irrigation command area of nearly 840 hectares.

“We plan to strengthen the bunds, repair damaged sluice gates and weirs that release surplus water as well as desilt the lakes. Their boundaries will also be demarcated to ensure that there are no encroachments,” said an official.

The Restoration of Traditional Water Bodies Scheme began in 2011-12, and is being implemented for four years across the State. Every year, the government allots Rs. 50 crore for it.

In the first phase, around 10 lakes were restored at a cost of Rs. 5 crore. Work to restore 20 lakes taken up under the second phase is now in the final stages and is expected to be completed by December.

Most of the tanks taken up are spread over an area of 5-10 sq. km. and have the potential to irrigate several hectares of land. In many cases, farmers dependent on these water bodies for irrigation gave up cultivating, as getting water was becoming increasingly difficult, said the official.

A water body in Koovathur village, 15 km from Mamallapuram, was among those recently restored. A visit to the lake revealed that the leaky weirs and sluice gates had been repaired and an earthen bund has been put in place for nearly 1 km. Its capacity has also been improved to one thousand million cubic feet.

Dinakaran, a farmer in the area said the villagers here grow paddy, groundnut and millet and depend on the lake for their needs.

“We were unable to cultivate properly as the lake would not have enough water during the crop season, as water flows out through the leaky weirs. Now, the department has even constructed a field channel to distribute water to our lands,” he said.

News Today          26.11.2013

Chennai City Corporations action plan

Chennai: Motorists plying on various arterial roads in the city can soon heave a sigh of relief with the civic body gearing up to roll out an action plan that is intended at reducing smog along vital stretches across Chennai.

According to official sources, a slew of measures will be undertaken under trail basis in key roads such as 100-Feet Bypass Road, Velacheri and Velacheri-Tambaram Road.

An official says, 'The surfaces of these busy stretches are subjected to overuse thanks to surge in automobiles. The process of reducing sand deposits along these roads have started on a trial basis to curb pollution levels.' As per the main plan, Chennai Corporation will coordinate with various departments - Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),  Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), traffic police, Chennai Metro water and transport department- to control air pollution across the city.

According to experts, the accumulation of sand on roads exceed the prescribed limit of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). Road users travelling from southern suburbs like Tambaram,  Seliayur and Medavakkam  feel that such a measure is the need of the hour to cut down pollution levels.

Deepa Ramakrishnan, a motorist at Velacheri Tambaram Road, says,Problems pertaining to respiratory problems is on the rise because of the smoke emitted by vehicles. People at the pink of health are becoming vulnerable to dust allergy and eye infection. It has become highly impossible to drive without pollution masks or covering face with handkerchief'.

The impenetrable smog in road sides can also lead to mishaps. 'Two-wheelers are likely to skid while negotiating heavy traffic on 100 Feet Bypass Road ', says Thyagarajan, a motorist. 'Less visibility amid cloud of dust toughens driving on this road', he adds.

However, these concerns of road users may become a thing of the past, if the action plan by the Corporation becomes a reality.