Deccan Chronicle 25.08.2009
Consultants to chalk out clean-up blueprint
Chennai, Aug. 24: The 47-acre, sprawling Velachery lake is all set to become a tourist spot with the city corporation planning to introduce boating facilities and rejuvenate the polluted lake.
“Chennai corporation would soon appoint consultants to study the feasibility of beautifying Velachery and Chetpet lakes that are located within the city corporation limits,” said corporation commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni. The corporation council is expected to pass a resolution in this regard and appeal to the government seeking custody of these two lakes that are now maintained by the PWD and fisheries department, he said.
Besides Velachery lake, the corporation plans to introduce boating facilities at Chetpet lake and Mylady’s Park. As part of the project, new walkways, greenery and landscaping will be taken up. The first lake to be beautified under the project will be Mylady’s Park maintained by the city corporation. Desilting work has commenced and the work is scheduled for completion by January 2010, Mr Lakhoni added. When asked whether Tamil Nadu Tourism Board will participate in the development and introduce boating, he said the project was in the preliminary stage.
“Rejuvenating the lake has been a long-pending demand of the local public and the West Velachery Welfare Associations had petitioned the state government several times to revive the lake,” Mr Sambasivam, a senior citizen of Thillai Ganga Nagar, said. “If the lake is rejuvenated, the entire locality will benefit as it will improve the groundwater table. A few decades back, the water body was a haven for aquatic birds and fish and served as a major drinking water source for residents. The lake has lost several acres due to encroachment and unchecked land-grabbing,” he alleged.
