Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Association (SSMNRA), Chitlapakkam, has sent petitions to Kancheepuram district Collectorate and CM Cell condemning Pallavapuram municipality over construction of a well on Sembakkam Lake.
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“The Pallavapuram municipality draws water from the waterbody to tide over the water crisis in Pallavaram, Keezhkattalai and Chromepet. Every day, around 25 to 30 tankers draw water from the Lake and so the groundwater level in Sembakkam and Chitlapakkam has depleted a lot. Even if we dig bores for 400ft deep, we are unable to find water spring,” M. Ravi, secretary, SSMNRA, said.
“We have not received Palar water supply for over a year and so we are forced to buy can-water for drinking purpose. A few residents have fixed Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filter systems in their borewells to avoid buying can-water. A few other residents, in order to overcome the shortage in supply, buy water through tankers and store it in sumps on alternate days. Our monthly budget has increased due to frequent buying of water through tankers,” he added.
“As part of a pilot project launched by Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat, a RO plant has been installed on Third Main Road. The plant has the capacity to purify 3,000 litres per day, however, 9,000 litres of water should be injected into the plant, that is the plant works in 1:3 ratio. For getting 1 litre of purified drinking water, we are wasting 3 litres of groundwater. Also, the waste water let out from the RO after purification process is not put to proper use; it mixes with sewerage water,” K. Ramakrishna, executive committee member, SSMNRA, said.
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The Association has also requested the Lower Palar Basin Division of the Water Resources Department to construct a weir on the lake and an outlet point, and also to de-silt the lake stating that if constructed, the dam will increase the groundwater level and lake belt storage.