The sight of the Rettai Eri (lake) always captivates motorists zooming past it on the Grand Northern Trunk Road. Soon, they may have the opportunity to actually halt and enjoy the idyllic beauty of the water body, as the area is set to be developed into a tourist spot.
GNT Road cuts across the sprawling Rettai Eri (known locally as Retteri) or twin lakes after which the locality was named. The lake, which was once a drinking water source for the neighbourhood, now has water for most part of the year and is a haven for birds.
After several decades of negligence, the lake that is spread over 5.42-million sq. metre and gets inflows from Red Hills reservoir and Korattur lake, will get a makeover and become an eco-tourism spot.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) will soon float a tender to improve Rettai Eri along with waterbodies in Ambattur and Korattur at a cost of Rs. 85 crore. Besides removing vegetation and desilting, there are plans to introduce boating and develop a park along the 3-km bund.
In its detailed project report, Care Earth Trust, a city-based biodiversity research organisation, has mentioned that 40 species of birds were sighted in the three lakes. Among them are the common tailorbird, the purple-rumped sunbird and the Asian openbill stork, a migratory bird.
The restoration efforts will not only ensure the revival of a forgotten wetland, but also bring into focus the water bodies of west Chennai, according to Jayshree Vencatesan, managing trustee of the Trust.
The move is likely to provide a new option for residents when it comes to recreation. S.P. Chairman, former executive engineer, WRD, and Retteri resident, recalled proposals to improve the lake into a drinking water source for Chennai a decade ago. “We still have groundwater at a depth of 20 feet because of Rettai Eri. The project will help save it from encroachments and also be a leisure spot for residents who travel to south Chennai.”
Officials of the WRD said various species of medicinal and flowering saplings will be planted to attract butterflies and birds. “We also plan to create a walkers’ path and a mud flat in the middle of the lake. Work, including plugging of sewage outfalls, will begin in the three lakes in March, an official added.
