The residents of Perungalathur have urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Public Works Department to desilt and deepen Perungalathur Periya Eri so that it is ready to recharge the groundwater table when the north-east monsoon arrives.
Reeling under a severe water crisis, residents are buying potable water from private suppliers as the piped water supply from the Perungalathur Town Panchayat is inadequate. Residents are shelling out nearly ₹3,000 a week to buy water.
“The lake, which once spread over an area of 80 acres, has shrunk to about 30 acres due to encroachments. The catchment area, the inlet and outlet channels have also been encroached upon. Until 1991, water from the lake was used for irrigation of agricultural fields in Perungalathur and Mudichur. I used to fish and bathe in the water channel which carries sewage now,” says R. Muthuraman, a resident.
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If the lake is desilted, it will boost the groundwater table in Perungalathur, Peerkankaranai, Tambaram, Mudichur and Madanapuram areas.