The Chennai Corporation will develop floating gardens in the Villivakkam lake as part of the eco-restoration of the waterbody.

According
to a study, a number of houses, commercial buildings and industries
have been developed in 83% of the lake area, reducing the waterbody to
36.34 acres. In 1972, the lake had an area of 214 acres.

The
existing boundaries of the lake include Jawaharlal Nehru Road and Padi
Railway Station on the west, residential areas on the north,
Chennai-Tiruvallur High Road on the south and SIDCO Nagar Industrial
Estate on the east.

“Most of the lake has been lost. The remaining
part is polluted because of letting of industrial effluents. We will
develop a floating raft of phytoremediation plants in the lake. The
roots will absorb pollutants from the water. The plants will release the
pollutants as harmless gases in the atmosphere, cleaning the
waterbody,” said an official.

The study by the Corporation has pointed to dumping of construction debris in the lake and unauthorised settlements.