A team consisting of representatives of residents’ welfare associations in Chitlapakkam, recently called on C. Rajendran, secretary — Kancheepuram district (East), AIADMK.
The team was led by P. Viswanathan, convener, Chitlapakkam Residents’ Association Coordination Committee.
The team discussed the following issues — construction of an underground drainage system, prevention of flooding in residential areas resulting from the lack of a proper water channel from Selaiyur lake, letting of sewage into an open space, early clearance of garbage from Chitlapakkam lake area through provision of high capacity bio-mining machines and increase in the supply of drinking water to 30 lakh litres a day, with the former MP of South Chennai constituency.
P. Viswanathan said, “The stormwater drains that should carry rainwater to Chitlapakkam and Sembakkam lakes are now used to discharge sewage. As a result, the groundwater and lakes are polluted. A comprehensive scheme was proposed in 2006 with a detailed project report prepared and approved to be implemented by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The scheme was dropped. The State government should take steps at the earliest to construct a UGD system.”
Cut and cover drain
Over the last five years, residential areas in Chitlpakkam have been getting flooded due to diversion of excess water without a proper water channel from Selaiyur lake, into an open space. Despite many representations to the authorities concerned, no action has been taken in this regard. The authorities concerned must take steps at the earliest to construct a cut and cover drain along Tambaram-Velachery Road to carry surplus water from Selaiyur lake to Sembakkkam lake to prevent flooding, residents said.
Drinking water
At present, the residents of Chitlapakkam receive Palar drinking water once in 15 days. Sinking borewells up to 300 feet does not yield water. Residents are forced to buy water cans and rely on water tankers for water.
Steps should be taken to increase the supply of drinking water and include Chitlapakkam in the Chembarambakkam drinking water scheme, S. Kannan, secretary, Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar Welfare Association, said.
Bio-mining machines
The daily collection of garbage from areas coming under the jurisdiction of Chitlapakkam Selection Grade Town Panchayat, weighing around 15 tonnes, is dumped in the Chitlapakkam lake area, polluting the lake and also the ground water. Now, garbage collected from areas under the jurisdiction of Pallavaram, Tambaram and Sembakkam Municipalties, is transferred every day to Venkatamangalam scientific garbage disposal yard and the garbage dumped at the lake area is being cleared using a bio-mining machine.
But, the town panchayat continues to dump the garbage on the lake area. The daily collected garbage must be transferred to the Venkatamangalam yard. Due to our repeated requests, tenders were floated, and a bio-mining machine was installed. But, the capacity of the machine, will take years to clear the garbage which resemble a mountain.
The installation of a high-capacity bio-mining machine is necessary to clear the mountain of garbage, residents pointed out.
C. Rajendran, said, “ I have spoken to the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and Ministers concerned about resolving the long-pending demands of Chitlapakkam residents. Soon, a meeting between the residents of Chitlapakkam and the CM, the Deputy CM and other Ministers will be held.”
