Of late, there has been a surge in people’s activism aimed at protecting waterbodies in and around the city. While these waterbodies are vital for the maintenance of the water table, some of the smaller ponds and wells serve as sources for private tankers supplying water to the city.
In such circumstances, many community groups are pitching in out of concern for the lakes. Organisations like Environmental Foundation of India, Sabari Green Foundation, Chitlapakkam Rising and Nethaji Neernilaigal Punaramaippu Kuzhu have initiated lake clean-ups and restoration efforts. Activists say that while there has been widespread interest in such initiatives, the extent of ground-level involvement has been limited.
EFI founder Arun Krishnamurthy says the participation of residents needs to be channelled to achieve optimum results towards the conservation of the given lake/pond. “There are several challenges though, as in the case of the Nanmangalam Lake. Residents in the neighbourhood are active participants and are determined to restore the lake. However, several other social factors and policy issues are a stumbling block in reviving it. The participation and interest from the local community is fuelling the revival process but is awaiting government support, without which the effort is incomplete,” he says.
Residents Welfare Association members point out that several lakes in the districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram are 70 per cent full even now. But much needs to be done to fix the damage they have sustained.
Perumbakkam, Sithalapakkam, Madambakkam, Adambakkam, Thiruneermalai, Ayanambakkam, Moovarasampet, Madipakkam and Keelkattalai are other neighbourhoods where there is active community participation in the conservation of lakes. Similarly, a small pond in Navalur, which was an abandoned, dry waterbody until 2007, was restored with the efforts of a private building corporation.
“We have received proposals to clean waterbodies in Sholinganallur, Pallavaram, Tambaram, and Maraimalai Nagar from voluntary organisations and the private sector, including automobile firms. They are under consideration,” an official from Water Resources Department (WRD) said.
“We welcome initiatives with community participation as it will create more awareness among people to protect neighbourhood tanks. We sanction permission to take up restoration works, but under our supervision,” he said.
