The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Lakes may be returned to PWD for upkeep

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Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Lakes may be returned to PWD for upkeep

K. Lakshmi

Report on their status, estimates for maintenance being prepared "Many lakes have shrunk in size due to encroachments"

Porur lake filled with water after rains. — File Photo

CHENNAI: The lakes in the city and its suburbs, which were taken over by Chennai Metrowater for maintenance about a year and a half before, are likely to be returned to Public Works Department in a few months.

Chennai Metrowater is awaiting Government order to return them to the PWD, which is seen as the agency having "the expertise for flood management and maintenance of lakes."

The proposal was under consideration by the Government for sometime now.

Around 20 water bodies at Tambaram and Poonamallee circles were handed over to the Chennai Metrowater two years ago as per the then Chief Minister's directive that the lakes, which no longer had irrigation facilities, but could be used as drinking water sources.

But, a Metrowater official said flood management became the priority after last year's rains and subsequent flooding.

It was then decided that the water bodies would be returned to the PWD, as the PWD was better experienced to manage floods. Porur lake, one of them in the list, would also be returned to the PWD for maintenance. Earlier, Metrowater had fenced and deployed security guards around the lake.

With the returning of the water bodies, the PWD would be maintaining the Porur lake, which was used for drinking water supply, along with other the three other city reservoirs.

Metrowater took up cleaning work, including deweeding the corners, to rejuvenate Velachery lake a few months ago. But, most water bodies in the suburbs including Korattur, Nemilicheri and Ayanambakkam in Poonamallee circle and Pallavaram, Pallikaranai, Tambaram big Tank, Peerkankaranai and Perungudi in Tambaram circle remained in the same condition even after it was taken up by Metrowater.

Residents of these areas said that many lakes have shrunk in size due to encroachments and were partly used as makeshift dumping yard. Moreover, water was also illegally drawn by private suppliers in water bodies such as Ayanambakkam. A PWD official said report on status of the lakes and estimates were being prepared for maintenance of lakes such as bund strengthening, encroachmentremoval and funds to be allotted. The official expect the directive for the transfer of the lakes in a month.

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