Long ago, Nadhivaram Thangal and Guduvanchery Eri, lakes in Nadhivaram and Guduvanchery respectively, made for a pretty picture. Now, they are hardly anything to look at.
They suffer from the same maladies that have visited many other waterbodies in the suburbs — dumping of garbage, unchecked growth of weeds and open defecation. If certain reports are to be believed, there is another problem plaguing these lakes. Residents of Periya Theru in Nandhivaram and Guduvanchery are allegedly discharging sewage into these waterbodies through stormwater drains.
Besides local residents, passersby, especially those commuting through Nandhivaram Bazaar Road and Nandeeswarar Temple Road, reportedly throw garbage packed in plastic covers into the lake in Nadhivaram. Similarly, motorcyclists taking the Madambakkam Main Road throw trash into the lake in Guduvanchery.
M. Prabhakar, a long-time resident of Nandeeswarar Nagar, Nandhivaram-Guduvanchery, said, “Due to dumping of garbage, Nandhivaram Thangal has shrunk considerably.” This lake comes under the jurisdiction of Nandhivaram-Guduvanchery town panchayat and is a habitat for waterbirds, especially pelicans.
“If steps are taken to de-silt and deepen Nandhivaram Thangal and arrest the discharge of sewage into it, the groundwater water table in nearby areas will be recharged.”
The Guduvanchery Eri on the western side of Guduvanchery, abutting Guduvanchery railway station, is overgrown with water hyacinth, thereby reducing the water-holding capacity.
“If not de-weeded at periodic intervals, the lake would be taken over completely by water hyacinth, which will lead to the death of the fish in the lake,” environmental activists say.
The bunds of the Guduvanchery Eri, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Water Resources Department of the Public Works Department, are overrun with thorny bushes, has all kinds of trash, and ‘serves’ as a public convenience. Residents have sought de-silting, deepening and strengthening of the bunds. Official sources in the Water Resources Department say the work for strengthening the bunds is under progress and work for de-silting and deepening the Eri will be carried out next year.
