There is considerable water scarcity in Nanganallur and surrounding areas.
The People Welfare Association (PWA), Nanganallur Chapter, has requested the Water Resources Department (WRD) to restore the Adambakkam lake, located on Southern Sector Inner Ring Road. The Association believes this could be one of measures towards improving the water situation.
V. Rama Rao, secretary, PWA, says, “The lake must be desilted and deepened so that it recharges the groundwater table in the neighbourhood. The State government has allocated ₹300 crore to revive waterbodies across the State under the ‘Kudimaramathu’ scheme. Adambakkam lake is however not mentioned under the scheme.”
Earlier, drinking water would be supplied from Porur, Puzhal and Veeranam lakes, through pipes, to the residents of Nanganallur. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has now stopped the supply. As a result, residents depend on tankers. Tanker operators charge around Rs..1,300 for 10,000 litres of water.
Representations to the CM’s Cell, elected representatives and officials of WRD have gone in vain. “If steps are taken to restore the waterbody, the groundwater table in Nanganallur, St. Thomas Mount, Moovarasampet, Pazhavanthangal, Ullagaram and Puzhuthivakkam areas will improve,” says Rao. The lake is littered with garbage and sewage from residential houses is being discharged into it, through stormwater drains from St. Thomas Mount. Bio-toilets, a refreshment stall and a garage are found on the lake area. Moreover, a building belonging to the Vanuvampet MRTS station, which is under construction, has come up on the lake area.
As a result, the lake channel that has to carry excess rainwater to Bay of Bengal, through Veerangal Odai, is now narrow. “From 200ft, the channel has reduced to a width of 15ft. It is due to this, excess rainwater in the lake could not flow into the Odai in the December 2015 floods, resulting in the flooding of houses,” Rao points out.An WRD official says, “In the first phase of restoration, a walkers’ path will be constructed. An estimate has been made and sent for approval to higher officials.”
