Nemillichery lake gets a new lease of life

Residents now want tank deepened

CHENNAI, 13/02/2019: In and around Nemilichery lake: A view of sewage water released from residences nearby entering the Nemilichery lake in Chennai and is infested with water hyacinth. The lake was desilted and all the garbage removed only three months ago. Photo: M. Karunakaran

A few years ago, the Nemillichery lake, spread across 14 acres, was filled with garbage. Today, it is filled with rainwater, thanks to local residents, who took up its restoration.

Rejuvenation work was undertaken by the Nemillichery Tank Rejuvenation Committee, formed by residents’ associations.

Meenakshisundaram, a resident of Nemillichery, said the presence of the lake itself was forgotten by the Water Resources Department and it would have been lost to encroachments.

Residents’ welfare associations gave a representation to Kancheepuram Collector K. Ponniah, who directed officials to take steps to remove the garbage.

V. Santhanam, a member of the Tank Rejuvenation Committee, said while the lake had been cleaned up, it was yet to be deepened.

He wanted the Collector and WRD officials to take up work to deepen and protect the lake, as the monsoon was nearing.

He said the lake would help recharge the water table in the area.

The associations also wanted the Collector to direct the Pallavaram Municipality to stop letting sewage into the lake.

A WRD official said: “We will not be able to restore the waterbody unless dumping of garbage and release of raw sewage into the lake is stopped.”