Several structures that were encroaching on the lake area of Chembarambakkam reservoir, one of the major drinking water sources of the city, were removed on Saturday.
Sprawling over 6,250 acres, the reservoir located about 40 km from Chennai, provides water for the central and southern parts of the city.
Like many other water bodies, the reservoir too was an easy prey for encroachments. On Saturday, the Water Resources Department (WRD) along with Revenue department officials removed nearly 30 structures, including huts and concrete houses, at Nandambakkam and Katrambakkam near Kundrathur.
Boundary markers were removed from a five-acre plot developed in the catchment area of the reservoir.
According to officials of the WRD, these structures were located just 200 metres away from the lake area. The reservoir has only 846 million cubic feet (mcft) against its capacity of 3,645 mcft. “Otherwise, these areas will be flooded. Only those structures that were not inhabited were removed on Saturday,” said an official.
The department has also issued notices to 50 more structures in the same areas that have been occupied.
If the residents do not move from the area within a stipulated period, the department will carry out an eviction drive.
There are also plans to carry out a survey to enumerate other encroachments.
