The Perungudi lake has become a model lake in the city, thanks to the cooperation between residents and government agencies. Today, when indiscriminate release of waste water and dumping of garbage into the water bodies have become the norm, the sprawling lake stands out for being well maintained.
However, residents are concerned that the lake faces a threat from vehicle movement and drivers working for offices of an IT park.
The compound wall protecting the lake has been damaged and service roads sullied by dumping of garbage and flow of grease-tainted water from the washing of vehicles.
The service roads, including the Anna Nedunpadhai Road, have become busy after an exit gate was opened by the information technology park that houses several offices. The road has become a parking area for hundreds of private vans that come to drop employees.
The residents complain that the drivers park the vehicles on the roadside causing traffic jam as well as pollution in the lake. Also, the drivers wash the vehicles near the lake bund.
Wall damaged
Sajeevan, a resident, said the compound wall of the lake had been damaged to enable free movement of vehicles. He rued that several well-grown avenue trees planted by the residents welfare association were damaged by the drivers. The members of the association submitted a representation to the Chennai Corporation to ban parking of private vehicles and also to remove several abandoned vehicles on the roadside.
Plan worked out
The civic body has sought the help of traffic police in removing the abandoned vehicles.
A senior official of the Chennai city traffic police said a plan was being drawn up to remove the abandoned vehicles and to prevent parking on the road. The residents have represented to the Water Resources department to take steps to re-build the damaged portion of the compound wall.
