Residents of Chitlapakkam, including members of Chitlapakkam Rising, a group of civic-conscious youngsters, have submitted a petition to the Chitlapakkam Selection Grade Town Panchayat, seeking the restoration of Chitlapakkam Eri and Sembakkam Lake.
“The waterbodies have become contaminated due to discharge of sewage through stormwater drains, which should be carrying only rainwater. Steps
should be taken to check this problem,” says Sunil Jayaram of Chitlapakkam Rising. The waterbody is also littered with all kinds of garbage, including medical waste, he points out.
R. Balachander, founder-member, Chitlapakkam Rising, says, “From 80 acres, Chitlapakkm Eri has shrunk to around 40 acres, due to encroachments.”
“Steps must be taken at the earliest to de-silt and deepen the Chitlapakkam lake, strengthen its bunds, remove encroachments and arrest discharge of sewage into them,” says K. Ramakrishna, an environmental and social activist and a resident of Sri Sarvamangala Nagar, Chitlapakkam.
“An underground drainage system should be constructed to ensure stormwater drains are left alone to carry only rainwater to the waterbodies. Also, for many years, garbage is being dumped and burnt in the Chitlapakkam lake. Residents, children, and vehicle-users (travelling through Second Main Road). Due to the burning of garbage, the health of residents is compromised. Steps must be taken to shift the trash yard to the integrated waste yard at Vengadamangalam.”
