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Tamil Nadu
Posts earmarking plots have come up at the Gowrivakkam Lake. — TAMBARAM: Farmers and residents of Gowrivakkam have sought government action to prevent yet another waterbody from falling prey to land-grabbers. Of the more than 100 big lakes, tanks and smaller waterbodies that originally existed in the southern suburbs of Chennai, many have vanished owing to encroachments. While some have shrunk in size, others such as the Gowrivakkam Lake are struggling for survival. The Gowrivakkam Lake, which is about six km from Tambaram, comes under the Sembakkam town panchayat. However, it is under the care and maintenance of St. Thomas Mount panchayat union. With an expanse of about 25 acres, the waterbody has been classified as a minor irrigation tank. Despite construction activity around the waterbody, there are still some families carrying on farming on nearly 50 acres of fertile land around the lake. Some years ago, farmers used to raise vegetables around this time of the year as water was abundant in the lake. It has become a thing of past and they now wait for the onset of monsoon for raising crops, members of Gowrivakkam Village Farmers’ and Residents’ Welfare Association said. In a petition to officials of St. Thomas Mount panchayat union - also called St. Thomas Mount Block - they urged the authorities to see for themselves the rise in the number of unauthorised structures. Long-time residents of Gowrivakkam said that encroachments on the lake appeared in the mid 1980s. Since then, farmers have been meeting officials, seeking protection for the waterbody. The lake is crucial to the needs of farmers and to recharge groundwater table for several hundred families living around it. In recent weeks, attempts have been on the rise to convert the lake into plots. Four-foot posts have been laid at many spots indicating “housing plots” inside the water spread area. Farmers recalled that even three decades ago, owners of cattle would be pulled up and cattle impounded if they allowed grazing on the lake bund. However, earthmovers were being used now as part of attempts to usurp land. The ‘kalangal’ (outlet point) of the lake had been damaged. When water level inside the lake increased during monsoon, encroachers would damage the lake bund to drain out water to protect their property. Calling for immediate intervention, the farmers and residents said that government agencies should protect the lake, thwart construction activities and take stringent action against those usurping land.
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