The wait for rejuvenation of three water bodies in
Ambattur, Korattur and Madhavaram is set to get longer, as the Water
Resources Department (WRD) only plans to take up the project under the
second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM).

While measures are on to improve lakes in
Porur and Nemam, the WRD has slowed down on the JNNURM project owing to
unchecked pollution and encroachments. According to sources in the
department, unless illegal discharge of sewage into the lakes is
arrested, desilting and improvement work would not be of much use.

Korattur
lake, spread over 996 acres, is one of the largest water bodies in the
Ambattur circle. However, it has for long been neglected and abused,
with release of industrial effluents and raw sewage from surrounding
areas including Pattaravakkam, Athipet and Ambattur.

M.
Elangovan, a resident of Korattur Agraharam, said groundwater in the
area has been polluted in the past six months owing to continuous
release of raw sewage into the Korattur lake.

“I live
about half a kilometre from the lake. I am unable to use water from the
well, as it has turned murky. Some of the residents have shifted from
the area due to this problem. I buy a pot of water for Rs. 5-7 and also
from private tankers as the water supply is erratic,” he said.

Residents recalled that they were able to use water from the lake for drinking around 15 years ago.Hari
Subramaniam, a resident of Ambattur said that some of the industrial
units continue to release their effluents into the lakes. If the water
bodies were restored, they would serve as drinking water sources for
surrounding localities.

At present, steps are being taken to improve surplus courses of Ambattur and Madhavaram under the first phase of JNNURM.Officials
of the WRD said that strengthening the sewerage network must be given
priority in these localities to prevent entry of raw sewage and
industrial effluents into the lakes.

“We are planning
to discuss with Chennai Metrowater about building adequate sewage
pumping stations and treatment plants to stop the discharge of sewage
and pollution in the water bodies,” said an official.

Sources
in Metrowater said that Ambattur and Madhavaram zones would be
completely covered with a sewerage network by early next year, after
which pollution into the lakes would be arrested.

Meanwhile,
a detailed project report is being prepared for the second phase of
JNNURM. However, officials said it would take at least eight months for
the project to be implemented.