The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Residents' appeal to civic bodies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Residents' appeal to civic bodies

Staff Reporter

Demand top priority for restoration of Adambakkam Lake

TAMBARAM: Residents and civic groups of Nanganallur, Adambakkam, Ullagaram and Vanagaram on Saturday unanimously decided to urge the Public Works Department, Alandur Municipality and other government agencies to accord top priority for restoration of the Adambakkam Lake.

`Adambakkam Eri Paadukaappu Koottamaippu', formed as a confederation of welfare associations in these places, organised the meeting attended by representatives from more than 15 associations. Residents said Adambakkam Lake was an important source of harnessing water, as rainwater run-off during the monsoon drained into it from vast catchment areas such as the military grounds, Grand Southern Trunk Road and nearby hillocks.

Vital role

The lake served the vital role of recharging groundwater table in the area.

The confederation urged the State government to form an independent "Lake Development Authority" to restore all lakes in Tamil Nadu. It also appealed to the Labour Welfare Minister and Alandur MLA T.M. Anbarasan to initiate improvement works under his constituency development fund.

Alandur Municipality, the local body, too should contribute towards protecting the lake.

The meeting wanted the Kancheepuram district administration to remove encroachments and deepen the lake. Adambakkam Lake 's original expanse of over 100 acres had shrunk to about 20 acres, residents said.

Several announcements by officials and elected representatives on the protection of this lake and improvement works proposed after inspections in the past failed to materialise, the residents complained.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail