The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : TNPCB assistance sought to free lake in Perumbakkam from contamination

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

TNPCB assistance sought to free lake in Perumbakkam from contamination

K. Manikandan

Water samples sent for tests

DAMAGE TO A VITAL SOURCE: Discharge of industrial effluents has been polluting the Perumbakkam lake. — Photo: K. Manikandan

TAMBARAM : Residents and panchayat authorities of Perumbakkam have sought the help of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to address the contamination of the lake in the area.

Following a pungent stench emanating from the Perumbakkam lake, only source of drinking water to a few hundred families, officials of the panchayat stopped supplying water to them through pipelines and deployed private water tankers.

The Perumbakkam lake spreads over 200 acres and is a vital source of water to residents and farmers in Perumbakkam, Vengaivaasal and Sithalapakkam villages. Nearly 100 families raise vegetables and other crops whenever water is available in the lake.

It was about 10 days ago that the residents for the first time noticed a pungent smell emanating from the lake. They also observed dark blue sediments on the water near the shore. Initially, they attributed the sediments to rainwater runoff into the lake from other areas. They raised an alarm when the problem aggravated over the past week and several dead fish were washed ashore.

The residents said the problem was most acute in the southern and eastern fringes of the lake.

Officials and elected representatives of the panchayat visited the problem areas. The panchayat has sunk wells in different places from where water is drawn for drinking water needs. Water from here is stored in overhead tanks in Jaya Nagar, Valluvar Nagar and Indira Nagar that have a combined capacity for 2.2 lakh litres.

An alert was sounded for residents in these areas. For over a week, the residents in these places have been supplied water through tankers.

After the authorities have lodged a complaint with the TNPCB, water samples have been sent to laboratories of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board for an analysis, officials said.

TNPCB officials said enquiries were being made.

A large quantity of prawns and some varieties of fish died about six months ago owing to the contamination of water, the residents said.

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